Never mind the gap: Freight train from China arrives in London

World
Europe

After an 18-day, 12,000-kilometer journey, China's first direct freight train to London arrived loaded with goods from the city of Yiwu on Wednesday. The train had traveled through seven countries to reach the English capital, as part of a plan to boost trade ties and promote rail freight in particular.

As the train inched into its final destination in Barking station, local dignitaries and officials from China gathered to welcome the trial service, the latest part of the continents-spanning infrastructure network known as the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Today's event is another testament to the Belt and Road," said Zhu Qin, deputy head of the Chinese embassy in London.

London is the 15th major European city to establish a direct train link with China and there is hope this will become a permanent line between the two countries.

The first container train carrying textiles and consumer goods arrives in Barking from Yiwu in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. /CFP Photo‍

David Martin from the China-Britain Business Council called it a great opportunity for companies in the UK to partner with Chinese companies.

“It may seem that [this is just] a train is arriving, [but] it's much more than that; it fits into overarching Chinese policies all the way down to the specifics of a company trying to do trade between our two countries,” he said.

The establishment of this route comes with the British government looking to boost trade outside the European Union as it pushes ahead with the vision of a post-Brexit global trading nation. There is hope that British luxury and branded goods can head back to China on these tracks.

CFP Photo

A truck was on hand to demonstrate the speed with which the goods could be offloaded once in London. Indeed, the train's ability to outpace shipping routes and undercut air freight is something those involved with the project are keen to highlight.

The company in charge of sending goods back on the return journey says it has seen a huge amount of interest from British businesses, without even advertising.

The first container train carrying textiles and consumer goods arrives in Barking from Yiwu in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. /CFP Photo‍

According to Oscar Lin of OTT Logistics, the train was only delivered from China on the first day of January, but in two weeks, OTT has received a high volume of enquiries.

Traditional dragon dancers performed a welcome ceremony for the freight train. No doubt officials on both sides will be hoping any good luck it brings will transform this trial service into a regular freight transport route.

8148km