China plans to develop more than 160 special railway tourist train units by 2030, aiming to expand the supply of rail-based travel products and unlock new momentum in service consumption, according to a policy document issued on Wednesday.

The document, jointly released by eight government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and China State Railway Group, outlines 15 measures to promote the integrated development of railways and tourism.

The measures include accelerating tourism-oriented infrastructure upgrades, improving elderly-friendly facilities, creating dedicated waiting areas for tourists and establishing convenient transfer channels.

Social capital will be encouraged to invest in the renovation of tourist trains. Operators will develop services for different travel scenarios, including short- and long-haul trips, and for various market segments ranging from premium and comfortable options to affordable offerings. Themed products such as senior travel, study tours and wellness retreats will also be promoted.

Special tourist trains featuring regional cultural characteristics and products tailored for inbound travelers will be introduced.

Authorities will encourage fixed-route, regularly scheduled services using ticket sales as the primary business model. Historical railway stations and railway museums with cultural or scenic value will be revitalized to develop railway-themed travel routes and cultural products.

To improve service quality, efforts will be made to strengthen connections between railway stations and urban public transportation, customized bus services and dedicated shuttle buses to scenic attractions, helping address the "first- and last-mile" challenge.

Zuo Xiaobo, an official with the Ministry of Commerce, said the ministry will work with relevant departments to implement the policies, expand the supply of railway tourism products and create more diverse consumption scenarios.

The goal, he said, is to foster a development model in which railway and tourism industries reinforce each other while better meeting people's aspirations for a better life.

In 2025, a total of 2,485 tourist trains operated across the national railway network, up 33.6 percent year-on-year, according to government figures.

Meanwhile, China's railway network recorded 4.255 billion passenger trips last year. Tourism-related travel accounted for about one-third of the total, making it the fastest-growing category of railway passenger transportation.

Yin Ping, a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University's School of Economics and Management, said the integration of railway and tourism still faces shortcomings.

"Most existing products are simply a combination of transportation and basic travel services, lacking thematic and sophisticated designs that meet niche demands such as study tours, wellness trips and cross-border travel," Yin said. "The product system remains incomplete, the industrial chain is short, and supporting services are relatively weak."

She said the goal of operating more than 160 special tourist train units nationwide by 2030 provides a clear target for developing a wider range of railway tourism products.

The market has already seen the emergence of several well-known railway tourism brands, including Panda Train, Silk Road Dream and New Orient Express, Yin said.

"These themed trains offer immersive, high-quality travel experiences built around distinctive themes, closely matching growing demand for personalized and diversified travel in the era of mass tourism," she said.