Strengthening the Silk Road on Rails
In a significant milestone for global logistics, the China-Europe Railway Express reached 130,000 trips this Saturday, May 9, 2026. The achievement was marked by the departure of a freight train from Zhengzhou, the capital of central China's Henan Province, bound for Hamburg, Germany, at 10 a.m. local time.
According to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., the total value of cargo transported via this extensive network has now exceeded $520 billion. This growth reflects the increasing integration of markets across the Eurasian landmass, providing a reliable and efficient alternative to traditional maritime shipping.
Expanding the Eurasian Network
Over the years, the service has undergone continuous optimization to better serve global trade. Currently, there are 93 scheduled lines operating at a designed speed of 120 km per hour. The network's reach is vast, with 129 cities on the Chinese mainland operating services that connect to 235 cities across 26 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian nations, effectively covering most of Eurasia.
Driving Economic Efficiency
The scaling of the operation has led to significant cost reductions for businesses and investors. Freight rates have plummeted by over 40% since the service's inception, making it an increasingly attractive option for a wide variety of industries. The railway now handles more than 50,000 types of goods categorized into 53 different groups.
Trade flows are diverse and high-value. Major exports from the Chinese mainland include automobiles, auto parts, machinery, and electronics. Conversely, the service facilitates the import of European timber, pulp, specialty agricultural products, and various daily consumer goods, fostering a robust and mutually beneficial economic exchange between the regions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
