China Railway Express: Freight network connects trade hubs between China and Europe

World
Europe

From nose to tail, staff need to fully inspect the train before each freight service leaves the station. Since 2013, the Chengdu route has connected nearly a dozen Chinese cities with European countries, bringing Chinese-made computers, household appliances and mechanical parts to European consumers. In return, European-made cars now have an easier gateway to the Chinese market.

LIU ZHONGJIE, MANAGER CHENGDU INTERNATIONAL INLAND PORT OPERATION "Chengdu was not an import port for cars before, which means that all imported cars had to be transported to this inland city from other Chinese sea ports. Since Chengdu was authorized as an import port in 2015, this became a thing of the past."

It saves consumers at least 15 days to pick up their cars thanks to timely operations at Alashankou station, China's second largest railway port, where nine routes of the China Railway Express pass through.

Alashankou only has around 12,000 residents, and railway workers make up most of the population.

Train driver Shen Jianwei has been working here for 25 years. He is responsible for operating the China Railway Express between Alashankou and Dostky, the very last part of the journey operated by Chinese train drivers.

SHEN JIANWEI, TRAIN DRIVER ALASHANKOU TRAIN STATION "There are fewer than 200 train drivers in the country who can operate a train across the Chinese border. I am one of them, so I am very proud."

Now about four China Railway Express trains pass through Alashankou station every day. Feng Xin, CGTN in Sichuan province and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.