Xi’an, a historic hub of the Silk Road, just turbocharged global trade with a new trans-Caspian corridor for the China-Europe Railway Express! The first freight train embarked Friday from Xi’an International Port Station, weaving through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and five European nations before reaching Germany—covering a jaw-dropping 11,300 km.
Why it matters: This isn’t just a faster route—it’s a game-changer for logistics. Previously, transport coordination involved piecemeal outsourcing. Now, 15 member units of the International Association of Trans-Caspian Transport Routes are pooling resources in Xi’an to streamline China-Europe trade. Yuan Xiaojun, a key project leader, said the upgraded model slashes costs, boosts speed, and strengthens ties between China’s export market and global partners.
By the numbers: Since launching trans-Caspian and Black Sea trains in 2022, Xi’an’s operations have exploded from 1 train weekly to 6-7 trains per week, moving 137,000 tonnes of goods across 150 trips. Talk about a glow-up!
This corridor is redefining how China connects with Eurasia—one freight car at a time.
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New trans-Caspian corridor of China-Europe Railway launched in Xi'an
cgtn.com