BEIJING, Jan. 9 -- China's railways are expected to carry 2.27 billion passengers this year, up 10 percent year on year, a top railway official said here on Thursday.

Sheng Guangzu, general manager of the China Railway Corp. (CRC), said at an annual work meeting that last year witnessed progress in China's rail development, including separation of administrative and business functions, establishment of the CRC, construction of new rail lines and reform in passenger and cargo transport.

According to CRC estimates, China's railways will also carry 3.28 billion tons of cargo this year, up 2 percent from last year.

In 2013, a total of 2.08 billion passengers traveled by rail, up 10.7 percent year on year, with the daily peak number reaching more than 10 million.

China's railways carried 3.22 billion tons of cargo in 2013, which is equal to the number in 2012, according to the CRC.