China-Europe freight trains: a bridge to deepen cooperation along the “Belt and Road”

The development of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative is inseparable from the development of logistics. The development of logistics has also better promoted the economic development of countries and regions along the “Belt and Road”. As an important part of this strategy, the China-Europe Express (CHINA RAILWAY Express, abbreviated as CR Express) is organized by the China Railway Corporation and operates according to fixed train numbers, routes, schedules and full operating times. It runs between China and Europe and the “Belt and Road” The container and other international railway intermodal transport trains between countries and regions along the “One Belt and One Road” are an important carrier for deepening economic and trade cooperation between my country and the countries and regions along the route and an important starting point for promoting the construction of the “Belt and Road”.

Introduction to China-Europe Railway Express

The China-Europe train corridor not only connects Europe and countries along the route, but also connects East Asia, Southeast Asia and other regions; it is not only a railway corridor, but also a multimodal transport corridor. At present, China-Europe trains have three channels: west, middle and east:

• Western Passage: First, it exits from Xinjiang’s Alashan Pass or Horgos Port, connects to Russia’s Siberian Railway via Kazakhstan, passes through Belarus, Poland, Germany, etc., and reaches other European countries. The second is to leave the country through Horgos or Alashankou ports, pass through Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey and other countries, and reach European countries; or cross the Caspian Sea through Kazakhstan, enter Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bulgaria and other countries, and reach European countries. The third is to connect from Turgat or Irkeshtan to the planned China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, leading to Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey and other countries, as well as to European countries.

• Middle Passage: It leaves the country from Erenhot Port in Inner Mongolia, passes through Mongolia and is connected to Russia’s Siberian Railway, and reaches European countries.

• East Passage: It exits the country from Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia or Suifenhe Port, Heilongjiang, and connects to Russia’s Siberian Railway to reach European countries.

The opening of China-Europe freight trains in my country

Since the first China-Europe freight train was launched on March 19, 2011, the China-Europe freight train has operated according to fixed train numbers, routes, schedules and full operating times, departing from Chongqing, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Suzhou, Yiwu and other places in China. To major cities in Germany, Poland, Spain and other countries. Since July 2020, 70 dedicated operating lines for China-Europe freight trains have been laid out. There are 35 outbound trips and 35 return trips. To learn about the “Periodic Schedule of China-Europe Railway Trains”, you can visit the China Railway Container website.

There are 11 international container train routes from China to Europe, mainly exporting finished products, and exiting customs through Alashankou or Manzhouli. In the past five years, the annual container volume transported across the entire line has increased from 1,500 to 30,000 boxes. Compared with the annual shipping volume of China-Europe Shipping, which is 14 million boxes, the proportion is still small. The “Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe” and “Zhengzhou-Europe” trains have seen the greatest growth. Rapidly, with an annual volume of 150 classes.

The “Yuxinou” (Chongqing-Duisburg) opened in 2011 and is the earliest international container train. The train departs from Chongqing and exits at Alashankou, passing through 5 countries. The average running time is 16 days, which is about 20 days shorter than the rail-sea combined transport. The freight is also twice as expensive. The source of goods is in western China and the south of the Yangtze River. Mainly, if the destination is Central Asia and Eastern Europe, the price/performance ratio will be higher.

50% of the “Made in Chongqing” IT products shipped out, the other 40% came from East China, South China and other regions. At the same time, complete vehicles, parts, chemical raw materials, food and other consumer goods were shipped back. In June 2015, Miya.com opened a warehouse in Chongqing, and some German imported goods were shipped to Chongqing via the Yuxinou line. This was the first time that domestic cross-border e-commerce companies used international railways to transport goods.

According to reports, the freight for transporting a can of milk powder from Germany to Hangzhou “Rongxinou/Yixinou” by train is more than 2 yuan, and air transportation costs more than 5 yuan. Although it is about 10 days slower, it takes more time than sea transportation. shortened by 20 days. E-commerce is price sensitive, so bonded stocking is still available. Whether it can become the norm, there is still potential to be tapped in terms of import and export.

Land and rail transportation is a safer transportation channel than sea transportation and can significantly shorten the distance and transportation time between China and Europe. As China’s coastal processing industry moves to the central and western regions, the importance of land transportation between China and Europe will become increasingly prominent.