The China-Europe freight train service reached a major milestone with the departure of the 100,000th train, traveling from Chongqing to Duisburg in Germany. The China-Europe freight train has now transported over 11 million TEU of goods, valued at more than USD420 billion. Since its launch in 2011, the service has significantly transformed global trade, fostering enhanced connectivity between China and Europe. The service has also maintained a strong record of safe, stable and efficient operations, becoming a vital part of the international logistics system. Between 2016 and 2023, the service witnessed an almost tenfold increase in operations, with annual train numbers rising from 1,702 to over 17,000.
Liu Bori, Manager of International Railway Business for overseas regions of the SF Express Delivery Business Group, noted the significant benefits of the service. It offers a perfect balance of speed, cost and reliability,” Liu said. His company primarily transports a wide range of goods, from clothing and electronics to automotive parts, furniture and machinery. In total, more than 8,000 containers have been shipped, with a value exceeding CNY1.6 billion. Liu also noted that one of the key reasons for choosing the rail service is its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. “The main advantage is fast transport times. A sea shipment from China to Europe usually takes about 35 days, but the rail service reduces that to just 20 days,” Liu said. “The train network is less affected by weather or port congestion, making it a more reliable and stable option for cross-border trade,” the China Daily reports.
The Global Times adds that to meet rising demand, the China-Europe freight trains have also introduced express routes. “Chengdu launched an express China-Europe Railway route last June, running at up to 120 km/h and reaching Europe in about 10 days – five days faster than regular routes,” Guan Yu, Manager of the International Transport Department of the China Railway Container Transport Co (Chengdu Branch), told the Global Times. “Each carriage is equipped with an e-lock for real-time tracking, with Chinese and foreign railway bureaus along the route coordinating to monitor its path to ensure punctuality,” Guan added.
There are now 93 scheduled China-Europe Railway Express routes operating at 120 km/h on China's railway network, connecting 125 domestic cities. The service reaches 227 cities in 25 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, covering nearly the entire Eurasian continent.
