The cumulative number of China-Europe freight trains exceeded 90,000 on May 25, 2024

Freight train X8157, which is bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, departs from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on May 25, 2024. A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an on Saturday morning, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000.

To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, valued at 380 billion U.S. dollars, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (Xinhua/Zhang Bowen)

According to the person in charge of the freight department of China Railway Group, since 2013, China Railway Group has conscientiously implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and a series of important instructions and instructions on the China-Europe train, adhered to the principle of extensive consultation, joint construction and sharing, adhered to the direction of marketization, rule of law and internationalization, strengthened domestic and international coordination and cooperation, accelerated the construction of an efficient transportation system, a multi-channel system, an innovative development system and a safety guarantee system for China-Europe trains, and continued to improve the operation quality and efficiency of China-Europe trains. Efforts have been made to build an international logistics brand with strong radiation, driving force and influence, which has effectively guaranteed the stability of the international industrial chain and supply chain, and injected new momentum into the high-quality service of the "Belt and Road" and the promotion of China-EU economic and trade exchanges.

First, the scale of the bank continues to expand. The China-Europe Express is a new type of international transport organization, with significant advantages such as convenience and speed, safety and stability, and green economy, and has become a popular international public product, and the number of lines has maintained a strong growth trend, especially after the unified brand in 2016, the China-Europe Express has ushered in a new stage of standardized operation and rapid development. From 2016 to 2023, the number of China-Europe freight trains will increase from 1,702 to more than 17,000, an increase of nearly 10 times, with an average annual growth rate of 39.5%. The time required to run 10,000 trains has been shortened from 90 months at the beginning of the operation to 7 months now. Since May 2020, the number of China-Europe freight trains has remained above 1,000 in a single month for 48 consecutive months. The annual value of China-Europe freight trains will increase from US$8 billion in 2016 to US$56.7 billion in 2023. The category of goods has gradually expanded from IT products such as laptops and printers in the early days of the bank to more than 50,000 kinds in 53 categories, including clothing, shoes and hats, automobiles and accessories, daily necessities, food, wood, furniture, chemicals, machinery and equipment. Since 2023, the "new three" made in China - new energy vehicles, lithium-ion battery products and photovoltaic products are becoming a new growth point for the volume of China-Europe trains, with strong market demand, and the current comprehensive heavy container rate of China-Europe trains is stable at 100%.

Second, the channel capacity continues to increase. In China, it has successively implemented a number of railway port stations and shipping station expansion and transformation projects such as the second line of the Jinghe to Alashankou section of the Lanxin Railway, the Manzhouli Port International Freight Yard, and the Shenyang Puhe Station, and the railway channel to make up for the shortcomings of the project, and the transportation capacity of the three main transportation channels in the west, central and east of the six major ports of exit through Alashankou, Khorgos, Erenhot, Manzhouli, Suifenhe and Tongjiangbei has been greatly improved, and the 120 kilometers per hour has reached 87 China-Europe train operation lines, connecting 122 cities in China. Overseas, on the basis of consolidating and stabilizing the existing main passages into Europe, we have explored and opened up new routes for the southern passage across the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, and successively opened the China-Europe freight train of the southern passage from Yiwu and Urumqi to Istanbul in Turkey and Salerno in Italy. The China-Europe Railway Express has achieved an orderly connection with the Western New Land-Sea Corridor and the China-Laos Railway, further expanding the transportation service network of the China-Europe Railway Express. Up to now, the China-Europe Express has reached 223 cities in 25 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries, with a service network covering the entire territory of Europe and Asia.

Third, the quality of operation has been steadily improved. According to the characteristics of the domestic and foreign transportation organization of the China-Europe train, the transportation organization mode is innovated, and the maximum number of marshalling vehicles and traction quality of the 120 kilometers per hour China-Europe train are increased to 55 vehicles and 3,000 tons respectively, the daily operating mileage of the domestic section can reach 1,600 kilometers and the foreign section can reach 1,000 kilometers, and the average volume of a single train has increased by more than 34% compared with the beginning of the operation, and the railway transportation time between China and Europe has been generally reduced by more than 5 days compared with the beginning of the operation. The stable operation of Xi'an to Duisburg, Germany, Chengdu to Lodz, Poland and other full-time timetables in the European train, the whole transportation time is greatly compressed compared with ordinary trains, and a total of 258 trains have been opened, which is favored by customers. Closely connect with market demand, optimize the supply of train products, implement flexible freight rate strategies, vigorously open customized trains, and launch special train products such as postal materials, timber, tea, edible oil, and new energy vehicles, so as to provide customers with high-quality international logistics services. It has strengthened the docking with the customs and other port supervision departments, developed and put into use the 95306 digital port system, and actively promoted the railway rapid customs clearance business model, and the efficiency and facilitation of the whole customs clearance of the China-Europe freight train have been significantly improved. 101 railway container return points have been established in 15 countries along the China-Europe Railway Express to facilitate customers to return containers. Actively apply new technologies such as Beidou satellite positioning and 5G, and implement measures such as loading reinforcement and safety inspection to ensure the safe and stable operation of China-Europe trains. The establishment of the China-Europe Express customer service center, the launch of the China-Europe Express portal, to create a "one-stop" comprehensive service platform, 7 × 24 hours to provide global customers with basic services such as intermodal document processing, cargo tracking, professional customer service, etc., the launch of door-to-door transportation, customs declaration, integrated logistics, full insurance and other special value-added services, to better meet customer needs.

Fourth, the radiation effect is becoming increasingly prominent. The rapid development of the China-Europe Railway Express has opened up a new channel for the inland regions of Asia and Europe, built a new platform for economic and trade cooperation along the route, promoted the better integration of relevant countries and regions into the open world economy, and greatly improved the livelihood and well-being of the people along the route. The China-Europe Express has allowed more "Made in China" electronic products, home appliances, and new energy vehicles to reach Europe at a faster speed and better price, greatly improving the welfare of European consumers and opening up a new trade channel for European manufacturers and traders to enter the Chinese market. The China-Europe Express has effectively driven the opening up of Chinese mainland's inland cities, and some cities that are not close to the sea or along the border rely on the China-Europe Express to gradually develop into a new highland for opening up. The China-Europe Express has helped Chongqing's export-oriented industries achieve an average annual growth of 30%, providing strong support for the construction of Chengdu Import and Export Commodity Trading Center and Zhengzhou Modern International Logistics Center, and boosting Yiwu to achieve the transformation and upgrading from "buying and selling the whole country" to "buying and selling the world". The China-Europe Railway Express has given birth to many new logistics, industrial, commercial and trade centers and industrial parks, providing a large number of employment opportunities for local people. The Port of Duisburg in Germany has attracted hundreds of logistics companies to settle down due to the opening of the China-Europe Express, creating more than 20,000 jobs. The opening of the China-Europe Railway Express has doubled the business volume of the Malaszewicz Port Station in Poland, which has greatly promoted the local economic and social development. During the pandemic, the China-Europe Railway Express has always maintained a safe and smooth operation, giving full play to its role as a strategic channel, and has delivered a total of 13.62 million pieces of epidemic prevention materials to Germany, Poland, Belgium and other European countries, exceeding 100,000 tons, becoming a veritable "life channel" and vividly interpreting the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind that helps each other and shares weal and woe.

Researchgate.net image by Xiangming Chen

The Western Corridor mainly attracts import and export goods between China's central and western regions and Europe. It enters and exits from Alashankou (Khorgos) and reaches Europe via Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland. The Western and Southern Corridor starts from Alashankou (Horgos) and reaches Europe via Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkey (or Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and Turkey).

The Central Corridor mainly attracts import and export goods between North China, Central China and Europe. It enters and exits from Erlian Port and reaches Europe through Mongolia, Russia, Belarus and Poland.

The Eastern Corridor mainly attracts import and export goods between the coasts of East China and South China, Northeast China and Europe. It enters and exits from Manzhouli Port and reaches Europe via Russia, Belarus and Poland.

中欧班列按照固定车次、线路、班期和全程运行时刻开行，往来于中国至欧洲以及沿线各国的集装箱国际铁路联运班列，是最高品质和等级的国际铁路联运列车，分别从中国重庆、成都、郑州、武汉、苏州、义乌等开往德国、波兰、西班牙等国家的主要城市。目前国内稳定开行中欧班列的城市已经达到33个，到达欧洲已有12个国家33个城市。

自2017年7月起，铺画中欧班列专用运行线52条。其中，西线33条（回程9条），中线5条（回程2条），东线14条（回程4条）。

西部通道，主要吸引中国中西部地区与欧洲间的进出口货源，从阿拉山口（霍尔果斯）出入境，经哈萨克斯坦、俄罗斯、白俄罗斯、波兰到达欧洲。西部南通道，从从阿拉山口（霍尔果斯）出入境，经哈萨克斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦、土库曼斯坦、伊朗、土耳其（或哈萨克斯坦、阿塞拜疆、亚美尼亚、格鲁吉亚、土耳其）到达欧洲。

中部通道，主要吸引中国华北、华中地区与欧洲间的进出口货源，从二连口岸出入境，经蒙古、俄罗斯、白俄罗斯、波兰到达欧洲。

东部通道，主要吸引中国华东和华南沿海、东北地区与欧洲间的进出口货源，从满洲里口岸出入境，经俄罗斯、白俄罗斯、波兰到达欧洲。

澎湃新闻记者从中国国家铁路集团有限公司（下称国铁集团）获悉，2024年5月25日8时40分，随着X8157次中欧班列（西安—马拉舍维奇）从西安国际港站开出，至此中欧班列累计开行突破9万列，发送货物超870万标箱、货值超3800亿美元，保持安全稳定畅通运行。

国铁集团货运部负责人介绍，2013年以来，国铁集团认真贯彻落实习近平总书记关于共建“一带一路”的重要论述和对中欧班列的一系列重要指示批示精神，坚持共商共建共享原则，坚持市场化、法治化、国际化方向，加强国内国际协调合作，加快共建中欧班列高效运输体系、多元通道体系、创新发展体系、安全保障体系，持续提升中欧班列运行品质和效率，着力打造具有强大辐射力、带动力和影响力的国际物流品牌，有力保障了国际产业链供应链稳定，为服务高质量共建“一带一路”、促进中欧经贸往来注入了新动能。

一是开行规模不断扩大。中欧班列是新型国际运输组织方式，具有便利快捷、安全稳定、绿色经济等显著优势，已成为广受欢迎的国际公共产品，开行数量保持强劲增长态势，特别是2016年统一品牌后，中欧班列迎来了规范开行、快速发展新阶段。2016年至2023年，中欧班列年开行数量由1702列增加到超1.7万列，增长近10倍，年均增长39.5%。开行万列所需时间由开行之初的90个月缩短为现在的7个月。自2020年5月起，中欧班列已连续48个月单月开行数量保持在千列以上。中欧班列年运输货值由2016年80亿美元增长到2023年的567亿美元。货物品类由开行初期的笔记本电脑、打印机等IT产品，逐步扩大到服装鞋帽、汽车及配件、日用百货、食品、木材、家具、化工品、机械设备等53大类5万余种。2023年以来，中国制造“新三样”——新能源汽车、锂离子电池产品和光伏产品正在成为中欧班列运量新的增长点，市场需求旺盛，目前中欧班列综合重箱率稳定在100%。

二是通道能力持续增强。在国内，先后实施了兰新铁路精河至阿拉山口段增建二线、满洲里口岸国际货场、沈阳蒲河站等一批铁路口岸站、发运站扩能改造及铁路通道补短板项目，经阿拉山口、霍尔果斯、二连浩特、满洲里、绥芬河、同江北六大口岸出境的西、中、东三条运输主通道运输能力大幅提升，时速120公里图定中欧班列运行线已达87条，联通中国境内122个城市。在境外，在巩固和稳定既有入欧主要通道基础上，探索开辟了跨里海、黑海的南通道新径路，陆续开行义乌、乌鲁木齐等地至土耳其伊斯坦布尔、意大利萨莱诺等地的南通道中欧班列，“畅通高效、多向延伸、海陆互联”的境外通道网络格局日益成熟。中欧班列与西部陆海新通道、中老铁路等实现有序衔接，进一步拓展了中欧班列运输服务网络。截至目前，中欧班列已通达欧洲25个国家223个城市，连接11个亚洲国家超过100个城市，服务网络基本覆盖欧亚全境。

三是运行品质稳步提升。根据中欧班列境内外运输组织特点，创新运输组织模式，将时速120公里中欧班列最大编组辆数和牵引质量分别提高到55辆、3000吨，国内段日运行里程可达1600公里、国外段可达1000公里，单列平均运量较开行之初提升34%以上，中国与欧洲间铁路运输时间较开行之初普遍压缩5天以上。稳定开行西安至德国杜伊斯堡、成都至波兰罗兹等全程时刻表中欧班列，全程运输时效较普通班列大幅压缩，已累计开行258列，受到客户青睐。紧密对接市场需求，优化班列产品供给，实行灵活运价策略，大力开行定制化班列，推出了邮政物资、木材、茶叶、食用油、新能源汽车专列等特色班列产品，为客户提供高品质的国际物流服务。与海关等口岸监管部门加强对接，研发投用95306数字口岸系统，积极推广铁路快速通关业务模式，中欧班列全程通关效率和便利化水平明显提升。在中欧班列沿线15个国家建立铁路箱还箱点101个，方便客户用箱还箱。积极应用北斗卫星定位、5G等新技术，落实装载加固、安检查危等措施，保障中欧班列安全稳定运行。成立中欧班列客服中心，上线中欧班列门户网站，打造“一站式”综合服务平台，7×24小时为全球客户提供联运单证处理、货物追踪、专业客服等基本服务，推出门到门运输、代理报关、综合物流、全程保险等特色增值服务，较好地满足了客户需求。

四是辐射效应日益凸显。中欧班列的快速发展，为亚欧内陆地区开辟了开放新通道，搭建了沿线经贸合作新平台，推动相关国家和地区更好融入开放型世界经济，极大增进了沿线民生福祉。中欧班列让更多电子产品、家电、新能源汽车等“中国制造”以更快速度、更优价格到达欧洲，大大提升了欧洲消费者福利，也为欧洲生产商和贸易商进入中国市场开辟了贸易新通道。中欧班列有力带动了中国内陆城市的对外开放，一些不靠海不沿边的城市依托中欧班列，逐步发展成为对外开放新高地。中欧班列助力重庆外向型产业产值实现年均30%的增长，为成都进出口商品交易中心、郑州现代化国际物流中心建设提供了有力支撑，助推义乌实现从“买卖全国”到“买卖全球”的转型升级。中欧班列催生了许多新的物流、工业、商贸中心、产业园区，为当地民众提供大量就业机会。德国杜伊斯堡港因中欧班列的开通吸引了上百家物流企业落户，创造了2万多个就业机会。中欧班列的开行让波兰马拉舍维奇口岸站业务量成倍增长，极大促进了当地经济社会发展。新冠疫情期间，中欧班列始终保持安全畅通，充分发挥了战略通道作用，累计向德国、波兰、比利时等欧洲国家运送防疫物资1362万件，超过10万吨，成为名副其实的“生命通道”，生动诠释了守望相助、休戚与共的人类命运共同体理念。