A new China-Europe freight train route linking central China's transport hub Zhengzhou and Belgrade in Serbia was launched recently, expanding the coverage of the China-Europe Railway Express, and further strengthening the economic and trade ties between China and Europe.
The first freight train to embark on the new route, carrying goods including frequency changers, semiconductor modules, and air compressors, left Zhengzhou's Putian Station for Belgrade via the Alataw Pass in northwest China's Xinjiang region.
The China-Europe freight train service now extends to over 140 cities, expanding the market for import and export enterprises in Henan and other central and eastern provinces of China and improving the timeliness of cargo delivery and reducing transport costs.
"After a decade of development, it can be said that China-Europe freight train service in Zhengzhou has transformed from a single route and station into an international logistics network that spans over 40 countries and more than 140 cities. So far, there are over 6,000 [domestic and international] customers utilizing the services of [China-Europe] freight train service in Zhengzhou," said Yang Wenjun, deputy general manager of Henan Zhongyu International Port Group Co., Ltd.
Due to rail's unique advantages over sea, air, and road transportation, an increasing number of domestic and international companies are choosing the China-Europe freight train service as their preferred mode of transporting goods.
"For example, we have the advantage of low costs. By utilizing railway transportation from Zhengzhou to the ports, we can save at least 30 percent in transportation costs compared to road transportation. The second characteristic is high efficiency. It takes approximately 15 days for our cargos to be transported from Zhengzhou's Putian to Germany, which saves at least half the time compared to sea transportation," said Li Qiang, deputy director of Zhengzhou Railway Logistics Center.
New freight train route links Zhengzhou in China with Belgrade in Serbia
