The main rail links in Yunnan run from Guiyang to Kunming, Chengdu to Kunming, Nanning to Kunming, Neijiang to Kunming, Yunnan to Vietnam, Kunming to Yuxi and Guangtong to Dali. Construction of the Dali to Lijiang Railway will begin soon and the first-phase of preparation work for the Trans-Asian Railway connecting Yunnan with Southeast Asian countries is now being carried out.

In 2002, the total length of railway in Yunnan reached 2,300km, transporting 13.969 million passengers and 43.151 million tons cargo. The cargo turnover totaled 21.31 billion tons. The electrification of Panxi Railway has been completed and the reconstruction and expansion of Kunming Railway Station is under way. The feasibility study and early preparation work is being carried out on a reception center for international containers, Zhanyi-Kunming line and the Trans-Asian Railway.

Within 5 years, the construction of the Chinese section (the Eastern Line) of the Kunming to Singapore Railway will begin. It is also possible that Yunnan railways will connect with the Southeast Asian railway network, especially the Thai section, bringing a new boost to railway construction of Yunnan.