A C2701 train is ready to depart from Beijing West Railway Station, Sept 26, 2019. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/chinadaily.com.cn]

BEIJING -- China will plan and construct 127 key special railway lines by 2020, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

These special lines, with a total length of 1,586 km, are expected to reduce the number of short shuttle trips, boost traffic efficiency and improve economic and social benefits, the NDRC said.

China has released a guideline on accelerating the construction of special railway lines, vowing to ensure 80 percent of the major coastal ports, large industrial and mining enterprises and new logistics parks will be accessible by the special lines by 2020.

The scale will reach 85 percent by 2025, with all main ports along the Yangtze River accessible by rail, according to the guideline.