Chongqing- China-Europe freight train services have recorded rapid growth over the past decade, with annual trips rising more than tenfold since the launch of a unified brand, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd (China Railway).
A China-Europe freight train departs from Chongqing, southwest China. (Photo/China Railway)
The company said on June 19 that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the unified China-Europe freight train brand. Annual train trips increased from 1,702 in 2016 to 20,022 in 2025, a 10.8-fold increase over 10 years, with an average annual growth rate of 31.5%. Since 2020, the annual number of trips has remained above 10,000.
China-Europe freight trains are regular rail cargo services linking Chinese cities to destinations across Europe and other parts of Eurasia. The services are part of China's international logistics network and are closely connected with the Belt and Road initiative.
"The international logistics brand value of China-Europe freight trains has been widely recognized globally," said an official from the logistics center of China Railway. The official said the trains have provided momentum for Asia-Europe trade, China's high-level opening-up, and the high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation.
China Railway officially launched the unified China-Europe freight train brand on June 8, 2016. On that day, trains under the unified brand departed from eight Chinese cities: Chongqing, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Suzhou, Dongguan, and Yiwu.
Since then, the service has expanded in scale, speed, and cargo categories. As of June 10 this year, the number of China-Europe freight train trips had surpassed 10,000 for the year, carrying more than 1 million standard containers, setting a record for the same period.
The trains now run at 1,600 kilometers per day within China and 1,000 to 1,300 kilometers per day outside China, about one-third faster than traditional international railway transport. Transport prices inside and outside China have fallen by more than 40% compared with the early stage of operations.
Cargo categories have also expanded. The trains initially carried products such as mobile phones and computers, but now transport more than 50,000 types of goods across 53 categories, including clothing, footwear, automobiles and parts, grain, wine, coffee beans, and timber.
In 2025, the value of goods transported by China-Europe freight trains reached $67.7 billion. The services have become a transport channel for Chinese-manufactured goods going overseas and for European agricultural, livestock, chemical, and consumer products entering China.
By May 2026, China-Europe freight trains had maintained a 100% heavy-container rate for 45 consecutive months, meaning all containers were loaded with cargo rather than running empty. The ratio of return trips to outbound trips exceeded 85%, showing improved balance in two-way transport.
The network has also expanded. China Railway said 129 Chinese cities now operate China-Europe freight train services, connecting 236 cities in 26 European countries. Compared with 2016, the network has added 113 Chinese cities and 216 European cities, with service coverage now broadly extending across Eurasia.
To support this expansion, China Railway and railway departments in countries along the routes have worked to upgrade rail infrastructure, improve border port capacity, and remove operational bottlenecks. The Tongjiang railway port in Heilongjiang Province was put into use in 2022, further raising customs clearance capacity.
The network outside China has also formed northern, central, and southern routes. Since May 2024, the Trans-Caspian China-Europe freight train route has operated daily services. Southern-route trains increased from fewer than 20 trips in the early stage of operations in 2023 to more than 450 in 2025. From January to May this year, 329 southern-route trains were operated, up 75% year-on-year.
At present, 22 full-time-table trains operate weekly between nine Chinese cities and six European cities, reducing overall journey times compared with regular trains on the same routes.
Digital services have also been expanded. In 2023, a China-Europe freight train portal website was launched to provide customers in China and overseas with information inquiries and one-stop business services. Smart container yards have increased loading and unloading efficiency by more than 30%, while electronic seals allow full-route cargo tracking and alerts if containers are opened.
China Railway said it will continue to improve operating models, promote diversified routes, and strengthen domestic and overseas mechanisms related to transport, safety, and pricing, aiming to further enhance the brand value and international competitiveness of China-Europe freight trains.