More Than 900 China-Europe Railway Express Trains Departed from Lianyungang Last Year

From: Lianyungang Daily Updated: 2025-01-15 02:58

On January 2nd, a China-Europe Railway Express train fully loaded with automotive parts and other goods departed from the Sino-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base, heading for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, marking the commencement of Lianyungang's China-Europe Railway Express transportation in 2025. The latest data shows that in 2024, Lianyungang's China-Europe Railway Express trains operated a total of 911 times, representing a year-on-year increase of 13%, exceeding the set targets. The volume of transportation ranked first in the province, providing inexhaustible impetus for the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and facilitating domestic and international dual circulation.

In 2024, Lianyungang's China-Europe Railway Express trains leveraged the city's advantage in constructing the New Eurasian Land-Sea Corridor, achieving remarkable results in organizing the shipment of goods, developing premium express train services, advancing information system construction, and supporting the development of the trans-Caspian corridor. The Sino-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base introduced new imported cargo types such as barley, wheat bran pellets, and wheat flour from Kazakhstan, while the eastbound transit transportation volume through the Lianyungang port, mainly consisting of ferroalloys, lead and zinc ingots, potassium chloride, urea, and chrysotile, remained stable with a slight increase. "The service level of the Sino-Kazakhstan base continues to improve, realizing intelligent scheduling, visible production, unmanned operations, and direct connections between ships, stations, and trains. We will focus on building a zero-carbon park, upgrade to create a full-process online business system, explore customized routes, and better serve the operation of China-Europe Railway Express trains," said Ge, General Manager of Lianyungang Sino-Kazakhstan International Logistics Co., Ltd.

To ensure smooth operation of the New Eurasian Land-Sea Corridor, Lianyungang has made efforts to unblock key nodes. In Kazakhstan, behind the Aktau Port on the east coast of the Caspian Sea, the Aktau Port Container Hub project, jointly built by Lianyungang Port and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), is being constructed at an accelerated pace. "The Aktau Port project has an annual designed throughput of 200,000 TEUs. Upon completion, it will form an integrated operation pattern with the Sino-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base and the Horgos-East Gate Dry Port, enabling goods transported by China-Europe Railway Express trains to cross the Caspian Sea more smoothly and reach West Asia and European countries west of the Caspian Sea," said Zou Liping, Deputy General Manager of the Strategic Investment Department of the Port Holding Group.

As a crucial transit hub for land-sea intermodal transportation, the seaport plays a vital role. Last year, Lianyungang Port achieved regular berthing operations for the province's largest 400,000-ton ore terminal and 150,000-ton container berth, opened a new ro-ro route to Brazil, and established a total of 120 container and ro-ro routes connecting more than 160 countries and regions. Lianyungang Port actively integrated into the construction of the world-class port cluster in the Yangtze River Delta, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Port, and launched the "Lianyungang-Shanghai Express" service, achieving the goal of "entering Lianyungang is equivalent to entering Shanghai Port". It is expected to handle 120,000 TEUs annually, with a growth rate of 15.4%.

In addition, Lianyungang Port is committed to creating a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized. It vigorously promotes innovative service models such as integrated customs clearance for Sino-South Korea land-sea intermodal transport with swap-body trailers, "Railway Express Fast Pass" for international trains, and mixed loading of "bonded + export" cargo containers for China-Europe Railway Express trains, enhancing the convenience of customs clearance and trade. Overall transit efficiency has improved by 75%, and enterprise costs have decreased by 60%.

As the new year begins, the "Iron Camel Caravan" sets off again. While maintaining a solid operational foundation, Lianyungang's China-Europe Railway Express trains will optimize the shipment process, enhance transportation efficiency, leverage regional corridor advantages, improve customer shipment experience, and promote the further development of the New Eurasian Land-Sea Corridor based on the current growth momentum, thereby facilitating an increase in both the volume and efficiency of train operations.