At 10:00 on May 9, 2026, at Putian Station in Zhengzhou, the X8037 China Europe train slowly departed and headed for Hamburg, Germany. This whistle marks the official breakthrough of over 130000 China Europe freight trains, with a total value of over 520 billion US dollars in goods shipped. Since its first departure in 2011, the China Europe freight train has operated over 30 trains to this day, completing the construction of the Eurasian Continental Bridge in 15 years.

22 full timetable trains leading the way

Channel expansion is the first trump card. Three major channels have been formed within the territory, namely the western, central, and eastern routes, with 93 planned routes traveling at a speed of 120 kilometers per hour; The parallel operation of the northern, central, and southern lines overseas, and the regular operation of the China Europe freight train on the southern channel, with a total of 219 trains in the first four months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 55%. The more crucial step is the successful testing of cross Baltic rail sea intermodal transportation - via St. Petersburg, Russia to Hamburg Port, with an additional dimension of the route.

At present, 129 cities in China have opened train services, reaching 235 cities in 26 European countries and over 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, with service coverage covering the entire Asia Europe region. The maximum formation has been expanded to 55 cars, with a towing capacity of 3000 tons. The six major ports deliver 50.4 trains per day, a year-on-year increase of 21%. The operation volume of 14 gathering center cities accounts for 83% of the national total, and the pattern of combining trunk and branch lines and hub distribution has become established.

The return journey is basically balanced, and the comprehensive heavy container rate is stable at 100%. Every week, 22 full timetable trains are running steadily between 9 Chinese cities and 6 European cities, with an average increase of 41% in single container cargo value. As of the end of April, the cumulative number of trains has exceeded 1700. The fastest customs clearance time has been reduced to within 30 minutes, and the domestic and international transportation prices have decreased by more than 40% compared to the initial operation.

50000 products connect two major markets

The structure of the goods is changing. High value-added products such as automotive parts, mechanical equipment, and electronics have become the main export force, while European timber, pulp, and specialty agricultural products continue to enter China. With 53 categories and over 50000 types of goods, the China Europe freight train is no longer a dedicated container transport train, but a mobile international supply chain.

Synchronize and follow up on institutional innovation. The railway multimodal transport bill of lading realizes "one order to the end, convenient settlement", electronic blockade enables full tracking and breaking alarm throughout the process, and the overseas container return yard has been expanded to 17 countries. The implementation of policies such as tax refunds at land departure ports and shared deductions for return shipping costs has further reduced enterprise costs. China Railway Group releases the High Quality Development Index every month, providing train inspections from four dimensions: quantity and scale, operational quality, smooth ports, and quality of goods sources. Keywords: logistics and trade, China Europe freight trains，dry port logistics

130000 trains are not only a milestone, but also a starting line.Editor/Cheng Liting