Chongqing — A freight train carrying electronics and auto parts recently left Hanoi, Vietnam, heading for Europe via Chongqing in southwest China, as a growing overland route links Southeast Asia, China and Europe.
After arriving in Chongqing, the cargo will be reorganized and combined with locally produced goods before continuing across Central Asia. The shipment is part of the ASEAN Express, a logistics service designed to streamline two-way trade along the Eurasian land bridge and reduce friction across borders.
Unlike earlier overland routes that depended on multiple operators and loosely connected services, the ASEAN Express integrates rail, sea, and road transport under a single coordinated system. By reducing handovers and standardizing operations, the model improves reliability and simplifies cross-border movement.
Previously, shipments from Southeast Asia to Europe via China were often slow and difficult to manage. Cargo passed through several carriers, each with its own standards and schedules, leading to delays and unpredictable delivery times.
A cross-border railway freight train along the China-Laos-Thailand-Malaysia route of the ILSTC awaits departure at Xiaonanya Station in Jiangjin, Chongqing. (Photo/Xinhua)
That began to change last year when operators of China Railway Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor integrated their networks. Under the new arrangement, goods can now move from Southeast Asia to Europe under a single contract, significantly reducing administrative complexity and transit risk.
Speed has become a key point. Transit times are roughly 50% shorter than traditional sea routes, while costs remain far below those of air freight. As a result, the service has gained traction among shippers of electronics, machinery, and other time-sensitive products.
The rail-based route also offers environmental advantages. Carbon emissions are estimated at one-seventh those of road transport and one-fifteenth those of air freight, supporting broader efforts to build greener and more sustainable supply chains.
Behind the service is a growing international logistics network, including more than 40 overseas warehouses and distribution hubs across over 20 countries in Europe and Asia, such as Germany, Hungary, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. These facilities help speed up customs clearance and last-mile delivery.
Chongqing has emerged as a major beneficiary of the shift. Once viewed primarily as a transit point, the city is increasingly functioning as an operational hub where goods are sorted, redistributed, and processed, drawing multinational companies to set up regional logistics and settlement centers.
The benefits extend across western China as well. Inland manufacturers can ship industrial components, agricultural products, and consumer goods to Southeast Asia and Europe more efficiently, reducing their reliance on congested coastal ports.
For businesses across Eurasia, the route is opening new supply chain options. European companies gain faster access to Southeast Asian markets by sourcing components on return trips, and Chinese exporters can reach European consumers more quickly, at lower cost, and with greater predictability.