'Faster than a ship' China to Europe freight trains hit 10,000 milestone

The number of China to Europe freight trains travelling via Manzhouli, China's largest land port, reached 10,000 earlier this month, according to local railway authorities.

Loaded with 61 containers carrying chairs, towels, valves, portable air conditioners and other products, a freight train leaving Manzhouli for Poland, became the 10,000th China-Europe freight train to cross the pass.

In the first quarter of this year, the number of China-Europe freight trains passing Manzhouli reached 951, up 60.4% year-on-year, according to the Manzhouli branch of the China Railway Harbin Group Co. Ltd. Since the first China-Europe freight train passing Manzhouli in 2013, the average monthly number of such trains has exceeded 300, the branch said.

Currently there are 52 China-Europe freight train routes that pass through Manzhouli, reaching 28 cities in 13 European countries.

Freight from Asia to Europe and the US has been severely disrupted in recent months, with costs and delays spiralling.

Reporting by ChinaFastener.com, additional commentary from Torque Magazine. 

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Image by Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida from Pixabay