Global freight rail connections between China and Europe are expanding through an international multimodal container transport service. Freight trains traverse the Belt and Road corridor, linking China with numerous regions and extending to many European nations. This network operates across diverse rail gateways, enabling cargo to move efficiently between Asia and Europe while leveraging the advantages of rail and other transport modes in a single, seamless service.
In the current year, the Belt and Road initiative marks its tenth anniversary, a milestone that highlights China’s sustained economic momentum and its openness to international trade. The trainload project underlines the country’s commitment to high‑level openness, stronger cooperation, and improved connectivity with its global partners.
As of the end of 2022, China–Europe freight trains have completed more than 65,000 trips since services began in 2011. They have moved about 6 million TEU (twenty‑foot equivalent units) of goods with a total value around US$300 billion. The rail links between China and Europe connect more than 200 cities in 25 European countries through a network of 82 distinct lines, according to data from the China Railway Corporation. This extensive reach demonstrates how rail corridors have matured into a reliable option for shippers seeking predictable transit times, reduced congestion risk, and a lower environmental footprint compared with long-haul road or ocean freight on some routes. (Source: China Railway Corporation)