Chongqing - Chongqing has launched its first full timetable China-Europe freight service to Budapest, marking a new step in improving cross-continental logistics efficiency and strengthening economic links between China and Central and Eastern Europe.

On November 30, a China-Europe Railway Express freight train departed from Chongqing's Tuanjiecun Railway Station for the Hungarian capital, Budapest. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)

On November 30, a freight train carrying auto parts, electronics, and general consumer goods departed from Chongqing's Tuanjiecun Railway Station for the Hungarian capital. The service is part of the latest batch of full timetable China-Europe Railway Express routes announced by China State Railway Group, and it is Chongqing's second approved full timetable route after the Chongqing-Duisburg line connecting Germany.

A full timetable service refers to trains with fixed schedules, routes, frequencies, and transit times. These services prioritize tighter coordination at border crossings, especially at reloading and handover points, resulting in significantly shorter transit times compared to traditional China-Europe Railway Express operations.

According to officials, the new Chongqing-Budapest route is expected to reduce overall travel time by about 30%, offering greater stability for shippers. The line will operate once every two weeks during its initial phase.

"We can provide more stable freight services by precisely controlling each operational step while retaining the capacity and cost advantages of rail transport," said Liu Yi, deputy manager of the operations center at Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd., one of the city's major China-Europe rail operators.

The train will travel approximately 11 days, exiting China through Alashankou in Xinjiang before crossing Kazakhstan, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia en route to Hungary. Officials say the service will not only support bilateral trade between China and Hungary but also improve logistics access for surrounding Central and Eastern European countries such as Slovakia, Austria, and Serbia.

The route is also expected to facilitate the faster movement of European goods, such as Hungarian wine, Polish dairy products, and Czech crystal, into the Chinese market.

Yang Lianchen, an economist with the marketing department of the Chongqing Railway Logistics Center, said the full timetable service provides companies with more predictable logistics planning. "It gives customers clearer expectations for production, trade, and capital turnover, and offers more efficient cross-border logistics options for Chongqing's electronics, automotive, and equipment manufacturing sectors," he said.

A manager from a Chongqing-based exporter who frequently uses the China-Europe Railway Express said shipping to Central and Eastern Europe previously required multiple transfers or slow sea routes. "With the timetable service, we can now align production schedules and inventory management with the train's fixed departure and arrival times," the manager said. "This greatly enhances supply chain resilience."