Shanghai celebrates the launch of its 200th China-Europe freight train on April 19. [Photo/Hongqiao Overseas Development Service Center]
Shanghai's 200th China-Europe freight train departed from the Hongqiao International Open Hub on April 19, carrying 110 TEUs of tower cranes, shower facilities and chemicals. The route now spans 12 Eurasian countries and transports over 1,300 types of commodities, a significant expansion from 400.
Since its launch in September 2021, Shanghai's China-Europe freight train service has played a crucial role in serving the local outward-oriented economy and contributing to the development of Shanghai's extensive logistics system.
Over two years, its operational routes have expanded from one to eleven, covering major lines such as the China-Europe line, China-Russia line, and the Central Asia line, solidifying its position as a crucial platform for Shanghai's integration into the Belt and Road Initiative.
There has been a consistent increase in the number of train journeys, with last year's 100 journeys marking an 82.8-percent increase compared to the previous year. In the first quarter of 2024, the trains ran 25 times, a 4.2-percent increase in outbound container volume, showcasing a stable and promising overall development trend.
The train service has consistently provided stable and high-quality international logistics channels for enterprises in Shanghai and surrounding cities, with two new corporate clients added in the first quarter of 2024.
The service has seen a simultaneous increase in both quantity and quality, with the monthly operating density rising from an initial average of four trains to the current seven. The railway department, in collaboration with Shanghai Customs, has introduced an innovative "Railway Express" model, reducing the train clearance time from three days to less than one day, further enhancing the efficiency of international transport services in Shanghai.
Shanghai's 200th China-Europe freight train departs from the Hongqiao International Open Hub on April 19. [Photo/Hongqiao Overseas Development Service Center]
