第一条为了保障铁路运输和铁路建设的顺利进行，适应社会主义现代化建设和人民生活的需要，制定本法。
Article 1 This Law is formulated for the purpose of ensuring smooth progress of railway transport and railway construction in order to meet the demands of socialist modernization and people's livelihood.
国家铁路是指由国务院铁路主管部门管理的铁路。
State railways refer to the railways administered by the competent department in charge of railways under the State Council.
地方铁路是指由地方人民政府管理的铁路。
Local railways refer to the railways administered by local people's governments.
专有铁路是指由企业或者其他单位管理，专为本企业或者本单位内部提供运输服务的铁路。
Industrial railways refer to the railways administered by enterprises or other units to provide in-house transport services.
铁路专用线是指由企业或者其他单位管理的与国家铁路或者其他铁路线路接轨的岔线。
Railway private sidings refer to the branch railway lines which are administered by enterprises or other units and are connected to a State railway line or any other railway line.
第三条国务院铁路主管部门主管全国铁路工作，对国家铁路实行高度集中、统一指挥的运输管理体制，对地方铁路、专用铁路和铁路专用线进行指导、协调、监督和帮助。
Article 3 The competent department in charge of railways under the State Council shall be responsible for railway affairs throughout the country, implement over the State railway network a transport control system which is highly centralized and under unified command, and shall provide guidance for, coordination among, supervision over and assistance to local railways, industrial railways and railway private sidings.
国家铁路运输企业行使法律、行政法规授予的行政管理职能。
A State railway transport enterprise shall perform the administrative functions as authorized by relevant laws and administrative rules and regulations.
第四条国家重点发展国家铁路，大力扶持地方铁路的发展。
Article 4 The State shall focus its effort on the development of State railways and provide substantial aid and support to the development of local railways.
第五条铁路运输企业必须坚持社会主义经营方向和为人民服务的宗旨，改善经营管理，切实改进路风，提高运输服务质量。
Article 5 A railway transport enterprise must adhere to the socialist orientation in operation and management, pursue the aim of serving the people, improve operation and management, better the work style, and enhance the transport service quality.
第六条公民有爱护铁路设施的义务。
Article 6 Citizens shall have the obligation to take good care of railway installations.
Damage to railway installations and disruption of normal railway traffic shall be prohibited.
禁止任何人破坏铁路设施，扰乱铁路运输的正常秩序。
Article 6 Citizens shall have the obligation to take good care of railway installations.
Damage to railway installations and disruption of normal railway traffic shall be prohibited.
第七条铁路沿线各级地方人民政府应当协助铁路运输企业保证铁路运输安全畅通，车站、列车秩序良好，铁路设施完好和铁路建设顺利进行。
Article 7 Local people's governments at various levels along the railway lines shall assist the railway transport enterprises in ensuring safe and uninterrupted railway traffic, good social order at stations and on trains, intactness of railway installations, and smooth progress of railway construction.
第八条国家铁路的技术管理规程，由国务院铁路主管部门制定，地方铁路、专有铁路的技术管理办法，参照国家铁路的技术管理规程制定。
Article 8 Regulations governing the technical operations of State railways shall be formulated by the competent department in charge of railways under the State Council, while rules governing the local railways and industrial railways shall be drawn up with reference to the regulations governing the technical operations of State railways.
第九条国家鼓励铁路科学技术研究，提高铁路科学技术水平。
Article 9 The State shall encourage scientific and technological research on railways in order to heighten their scientific and technical level.
Any unit or individual that has achieved outstanding results in such research shall be awarded.
对在铁路科学技术研究中有显著成绩的单位和个人给予奖励。
Article 9 The State shall encourage scientific and technological research on railways in order to heighten their scientific and technical level.
Any unit or individual that has achieved outstanding results in such research shall be awarded.
第十一条铁路运输合同是明确铁路运输企业与旅客、托运人之间权利义务关系的协议。
Article 11 A railway transport contract shall be an agreement in which the mutual rights and obligations between the railway transport enterprise and the passenger(s) or shipper(s) are defined.
第十二条铁路运输企业应当保证旅客按车票载明的日期、车次乘车，并到达目的站。
Article 12 A railway transport enterprise shall ensure the passenger of riding on a train of the number and on the date stated on the passenger's ticket, and of arriving at the destination stated on the same ticket.
In cases of the passenger being unable to ride on the train of the number and on the date stated on the passenger's ticket owing to the liability of the railway transport enterprise, the said enterprise shall, as requested by the passenger, refund the total sum of the ticket fare or make arrangements for the passenger to ride on another train to the same destination.
因铁路运输企业的责任造成旅客不能按车票载明的日期、车次乘车的，铁路运输企业应当按照旅客的要求，退还全部票款或者安排改乘到达相同目的站的其他列车。
Article 12 A railway transport enterprise shall ensure the passenger of riding on a train of the number and on the date stated on the passenger's ticket, and of arriving at the destination stated on the same ticket.
In cases of the passenger being unable to ride on the train of the number and on the date stated on the passenger's ticket owing to the liability of the railway transport enterprise, the said enterprise shall, as requested by the passenger, refund the total sum of the ticket fare or make arrangements for the passenger to ride on another train to the same destination.
第十三条铁路运输企业应当采取有效措施做到旅客运输服务工作，做到文明礼貌、热情周到，保持车站和车厢内的清洁卫生，提供饮用开水，做好列车上的饮食供应工作。
Article 13 A railway transport enterprise shall take effective measures to serve the passengers well in a courteous, attentive, warm and cultured manner, keep the station premises and passenger cars clean and sanitary, provide boiled drinking water and good catering services on the train.
铁路运输企业应当采取措施，防止对铁路沿线环境的污染。
A railway transport enterprise shall take measures to protect the environment along railway lines from pollution.
第十四条旅客乘车应当持有效车票。
Article 14 Any passenger boarding a train shall hold a valid passenger ticket.
Any passenger riding on a train without a ticket or with an invalid ticket shall pay the ticket fare on the train plus such additional charges as specified in relevant railway regulations; the railway transport enterprise may order any passenger who refuses to do so to leave the train.
对无票乘车或者持失效车票乘车的，应当补收票款，并按照规定加收票款；拒不交付的，铁路运输企业可以责令下车。
Article 14 Any passenger boarding a train shall hold a valid passenger ticket.
Any passenger riding on a train without a ticket or with an invalid ticket shall pay the ticket fare on the train plus such additional charges as specified in relevant railway regulations; the railway transport enterprise may order any passenger who refuses to do so to leave the train.
第十五条国家铁路和地方铁路根据发展生产、搞活流通的原则，安排货物运输计划。
Article 15 The State railways and local railways shall plan the goods transport on the principle of promoting production and invigorating circulation.
对抢险救灾物资和国家规定需要优先运输的其他物资，应予优先运输。
Priority in transport shall be given to materials for emergency rescue or disaster relief and other goods and materials that warrant such priority according to relevant regulations of the State.