中国煤炭资源主要分布在西北部，尤其是“三西”地区(即山西、陕西北部、内蒙古西部地区)，煤炭消费重心在东部和中南地区，形成了北煤南运、西煤东运的格局，长期以来，煤炭一直是铁路运输的重点。加强煤炭运输通道建设，保障煤炭安全稳定供给，对于增强国民经济运行的安全性和可靠性，保障国家能源战略安全具有非常重要的意义。

The coal resources in China are mainly distributed in northwest parts, especially in Shanxi Province, north part of Shanxi Province and west part of Inner Mongolia, while the areas which consume coals most are the north and central south parts, thus the pattern of transporting coals in north to south and transporting coals in west to east comes into being. Coal transportation has been being the key point of railway transportation for a long time. Strengthening the railway construction for coal transportation to ensure safe and steady coal supply is significant to the safety of national energy strategy.

宋彩萍（1965－），女，山西繁寺县人，北京大学公共经济管理研究中心研究员，主要从事铁道工程及能源管理工作