Forget slow trains – Austria’s rail cargo sector is hitting warp speed on the Silk Road’s 'middle corridor'! 🚚 OBB Rail Cargo Group, Europe’s #2 rail freight giant, reports explosive growth since 2022, with CEO Clemens Först telling CGTN they’re seeing 'dynamic growth' through 2025.
The trigger? The Russia-Ukraine conflict reshaped trade routes faster than a TikTok trend. Sanctions pushed companies to pivot to the trans-Caspian middle corridor – bypassing Russia and Ukraine via the Caspian Sea. Vienna’s South Terminal is now buzzing with Chinese containers 🧳, turning this once-sleepy route into a global logistics MVP.
But it’s not all smooth sailing: This 6,500-km path crosses 7 countries and 3 seas 🌊, creating bottlenecks. Still, OBB – which has linked China and Austria since 2008 – sees huge potential to streamline travel times. Move over, northern corridor – there’s a new Silk Road star in town!
