CHINA's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) says railway spending increased 37 per cent in the first 10 months of 2014 year on year to CNY800 billion (US$130 billion), Reuters reports.

Beijing increased the rate of spending in recent months, approving several major projects as the government moves to bolster a cooling economy.

China spent CNY590 billion between January and October on new track, or 76 per cent of this year's rail spending allotment, said the NDRC.

"We are also making preparations for a batch of new railway projects," Fei Zhirong, head of the NDRC's industry department told a press conference.

China wants to start running 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles) of new railway lines this year, although only about 32 per cent of that had become operational in October, Mr Fei said.