Chongqing - On December 6, with the sound of a train whistle, the inaugural Middle Corridor block train of the Chengdu-Chongqing Middle Corridor of China-Europe Railway Express (CRE) left Chongqing, marking a significant milestone for the Middle Corridor. The train will journey through Türkiye, ultimately reaching Hungary, Germany, and other European destinations.
The departure of the inaugural China-Europe Railway Express (CRE) Middle Corridor train. (Photo/Yuxinou)
This inaugural journey, which will carry electronic information, light industrial products, and a range of other goods, follows the official establishment of the Chengdu-Chongqing Center of the Middle Corridor on December 5.
The awarding ceremony for the Chengdu-Chongqing Center of the Middle Corridor. (Photo/Chen Yingzhu)
The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), integrates both rail and sea transport, forming a multimodal link between Asia and Europe. Compared to traditional maritime routes, this corridor offers a significantly shorter path, enhancing efficiency for cross-continental trade.
The train is a joint effort between Chongqing Logistics Group and Pasifik Global Logistics Group, with operations handled by Yuxinou, a subsidiary of Chongqing Logistics Group. This new service boosts the region's export capacity by offering businesses a more diverse and efficient international transport route and strengthening economic and trade ties among the countries along the corridor.
The first launch (Chongqing) of the Middle Corridor block train of the Chengdu-Chongqing Middle Corridor of China-Europe Railway Express. (Photo/Yuxinou)
Spanning Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, the Middle Corridor connects to Europe via Türkiye or the Black Sea. It has opened a new rail-sea intermodal trade route for China, facilitating faster and more reliable access to European markets.
In 2023, China officially incorporated the TITR into its Belt and Road Initiative, underlining the route's importance in enhancing global connectivity and trade.
This year, Chongqing strengthened its role in the corridor by launching a direct CRE service to Istanbul and establishing a rail link to Türkiye via the BTK (Baku-Tbilisi-Kars) Railway. It also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan Railways to support the TITR's development.
Notably, in July of this year, under the joint witness of the heads of state of China and Kazakhstan, Chongqing saw the successful launch of the CRE (Chengdu-Chongqing) Trans-Caspian Sea Express Train. The shipment crossed the Caspian Sea from the Aktau Port in Kazakhstan, marking a significant milestone.
Statistics show a 28-fold increase in container trains to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Europe from January to September compared to last year.
"This route is vital for connecting continents and enhancing global trade networks. In the current geopolitical climate, it's imperative to strengthen our existing transportation infrastructure," said Fatih Nusret DUR, Chair of the Board of Pasifik Eurasia.
"The Middle Corridor, as one of the most important alternative routes, holds immense development potential. I believe we will see more China-Europe Railway Express trains traveling through this corridor, further supporting the growth of the global international logistics network," he added.
Additionally, during the Second China-Europe Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing) Global Partners Conference, the International Association TITR signed a cooperation agreement with Yuxinou and Chengdu International Railway Port Investment and Development (Group) Co., Ltd. to enhance the logistics infrastructure for the CRE (Chengdu-Chongqing). The agreement aims to improve supporting facilities, promote digital integration, and develop an efficient transportation service system.