China-Europe freight trains reach 100,000

The China-Europe freight train service, a calling card of the Belt and Road Initiative, reached a major milestone on Friday, with the 100,000th train now in operation, according to China State Railway Group, which manages and oversees the service.

At 10:20 am on Friday, the X8083 train, traveling from Chongqing to Duisburg, Germany, departed from Tuanjiecun Station in Chongqing, marking the historic moment.

With this milestone, the China-Europe freight train has now transported over 11 million TEUs of goods, valued at more than $420 billion.

Since its launch in 2011, the service has significantly transformed global trade, fostering enhanced connectivity between China and Europe. The service has maintained a strong record of safe, stable, and efficient operations, becoming a vital part of the international logistics system.

This achievement underscores the rapid growth of the rail corridor connecting China and Europe, facilitating seamless and reliable movement of goods across continents.

Over the past seven years, the service has seen an almost tenfold increase in operations, with annual train numbers rising from 1,702 in 2016 to over 17,000 in 2023.