The draft amendment to the Railway Law is one of the 40 bills scheduled for deliberation by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) this year.

With the rapid development of China's railway industry, profound changes have taken place in the railway management system, transport operation and safety management, especially in the safety management of high-speed railways. These changes make it necessary to revise the law to meet the development needs.

During the fifth session of the 13th NPC, a motion called for expediting revision of the law, improving the system of railway laws and regulations, and advancing law-based and market-oriented railway operation.

The motion proposed various suggestions for revision, such as clarifying the types of railways and adding provisions on railway safety management, the real-name ticket purchasing system, as well as liability and compensation for railway accidents. It stated that the results of railway system reform that separates government functions from enterprise management should be ascertained by the law, the roles and functions of the National Railway Administration and railway enterprises be clarified, and policy guidance and legal support for further railway reforms be clearly stipulated.

The Railway Law came into effect on May 1, 1991 and was then modified twice on Aug 27, 2009 and April 24, 2015. The Ministry of Transport presented the draft revision to the State Council in June 2020. Last May, the Ministry of Justice formulated a draft amendment to further solicit opinions from all sides.