China-Europe freight trains have been a saviour for shippers during the pandemic, thanks to their cost-effectiveness and reliability. While ocean and air routes faced capacity shortages and soaring rates, rail service remained stable. In August, another new China-Europe freight train line, linking south China's economic hub Shenzhen with Germany's Duisburg, commenced operation. The first train, with electronics, machinery and textile products, departed from Shenzhen in late August heading to the EU via the Alataw Pass, a major rail port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The trip to Duisburg took about 20 days. The 13,438-km-long route, among the longest China-Europe freight train lines, will be used by one train every week. By August 18, the number of freight trains passing through the Alataw Pass rose more than 41 percent year on year, local customs data showed. The new service follows other routes that have been opened this year. <ul> <li style="list-style-type: none;"> <ul> <li>China-Europe rail freight services, launched in 2011, are considered a significant part of the Belt and Road Initiative aimed at boosting trade between China and other countries and regions.</li> <li>Rail freight lines now link more than 60 Chinese cities to over 50 destinations in Europe.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> The bulk of rail shipments from Asia to Europe are for industries such as automotive, consumer lifestyle goods, fashion, industrial products and technology. <h3><strong>Set to Grow</strong></h3> The Eurasian railway revolution, as it is sometimes called, is forecast by carriers to see strong growth as the New Silk Road continues to develop. Increasing the capacity of existing routes and laying new railways, such as building new and shorter "southern" routes from China through the territories of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey to Europe, will undoubtedly strengthen the rail service. <ul> <li style="list-style-type: none;"> <ul> <li>In July, China-Europe freight trains made 1,232 journeys, the highest monthly figure ever, and a rise of 68 percent year-on-year. (China State Railway Group)</li> <li>In the first seven months of this year, 6,354 trips were made by these trains, a year-on-year rise of 41 percent. They transported 574,000 standard cargo containers, a rise of 46 percent compared with the same period last year.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> On Aug. 26, Luoyang City in Henan launched its first China-Europe rail freight service to Barnaul, Russia—a journey of about 20 days. With rail freight traffic rising, the National Development and Reform Commission recently allocated 200 million yuan ($28.6 million) to support construction of transportation hubs in five cities to improve services between China and Europe. The cities are Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, and Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang.