Abstract As a result of prodigious energy requirements, unprecedented demands are being placed on China's coal supply system. Since the railways bear the brunt of moving coal, they not only have to move large volumes but to carry these volumes over increasing distances. Moreover, as the amount of coal requiring transport grows, the railways must continually invest in network expansion by adding new lines and enlarging the capacity of existing ones. This paper traces these developments and assesses their adequacy in the light of the spatial mismatches between supply and demand for coal.