The National Development and Reform Commission issued a document to regulate the development of intercity railways: it is strictly prohibited to build high-speed rail in disguised forms, and indicators such as passenger flow density are clearly defined

Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the "Opinions on Promoting the Healthy and Sustainable Development of Intercity Railways." The "Opinions" state that it is strictly prohibited to disguise the construction of high-speed railways and urban rail transit projects under the name of intercity railways. Adhering to the principle of moderate advance without excessive advance, and being demand-oriented, it proposes that the newly built intercity railways should have a two-way passenger flow density of no less than 15 million trips per year in the short term. It advises cautious construction of intercity railway projects parallel to existing trunk railways, and regions where the passenger flow density of existing intercity railways has not reached 50% of the expected indicators after 5 years of operation should suspend new intercity railway projects. It is clarified that newly built intercity railways should generally be laid above ground, with a design speed typically between 120-200 kilometers per hour, and technical standards should be determined in a resource-efficient and location-appropriate manner, with strict control over project costs