China-Europe freight trains pass 140,000 runs as Moscow-bound X8059 leaves Shenyang
In short
China-Europe freight train services passed 140,000 cumulative runs on 22 October, when train X8059 left Shenyang's Puhe station for Moscow. Chinese outlets reported cargo value sent of more than 560 billion US dollars.
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China-Europe freight train services passed 140,000 cumulative runs on 22 October, with more than 560 billion US dollars of cargo value sent, according to CLS, China News Service and Xinhua. The milestone came when train X8059, bound for Moscow, left Puhe station in Shenyang. Xinhua put the departure at about 11:30. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
China News Service said the 140,000th train carried household appliances and auto parts. It heads north from Shenyang, leaves China through the Manzhouli border crossing and is expected to reach Moscow in about nine days. It is the 280th China-Europe train to start from the Shenyang assembly centre this year. [ 2 ]
Citing data from China State Railway Group, Xinhua said scheduled 120 km/h routes inside China now number 96 and link 132 domestic cities. Trains reach 237 cities in 26 European countries and more than 100 cities in 12 Asian countries, a service area both outlets describe as covering almost all of Eurasia. China News Service added that 14 assembly centres have been built nationwide. [ 2 , 4 ]
Both outlets reported growth this year. The south corridor ran 746 trains from January to September, up 125% year on year. Xinhua quoted a head of the group's logistics centre as saying that in May the service ran 1,965 trains and sent 197,000 standard containers, a monthly record. China News Service said six ports hand over an average of 51.2 trains a day, up 12.8% year on year, and that the shortest port clearance time is under 30 minutes. [ 2 , 4 ]
China News Service also reported that 22 full-timetable trains run each week between nine Chinese and six European cities. It said more than 100 international trains have started from Beijing, and that high-value products such as integrated circuits and medical devices now make up over 90% of their cargo, up from 30% at the start. [ 2 ]
Xinhua said the railway department is working on preparations for second standard-gauge lines at the Alashankou-Dostyk and Manzhouli-Zabaikalsk crossings and aims to start construction as early as possible. China News Service said the National Development and Reform Commission plans to keep strengthening the China-Europe train brand and raise its resilience. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The milestone is reported by official and business outlets as a measure of the scale of the rail network linking China with Europe and Asia. The documents give no independent assessment beyond the figures from the railway operator and the planning agency.
Key facts
- Train X8059, bound for Moscow, left Puhe station in Shenyang on 22 October, taking cumulative China-Europe train runs past 140,000. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Cargo value sent since the service began exceeds 560 billion US dollars. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- X8059 carried household appliances and auto parts, exits China via Manzhouli and is expected to reach Moscow in about nine days. [ 2 ]
- It is the 280th China-Europe train to start from the Shenyang assembly centre this year. [ 2 ]
- The trains reach 237 cities in 26 European countries and more than 100 cities in 12 Asian countries. [ 2 , 4 ]
- South corridor trains ran 746 times from January to September, up 125% year on year. [ 2 , 4 ]
- In May, monthly volume hit a record: 1,965 trains and 197,000 standard containers, according to Xinhua. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The 140,000th China-Europe train, X8059, left Shenyang's Puhe station for Moscow on 22 October, with cumulative cargo value above 560 billion US dollars. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Scheduled 120 km/h routes inside China number 96 and connect 132 domestic cities. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The trains reach 237 cities in 26 European countries and more than 100 cities in 12 Asian countries. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The south corridor ran 746 trains from January to September, up 125% year on year. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Monthly volume set a record in May. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- When construction would start on second standard-gauge lines at the Alashankou-Dostyk and Manzhouli-Zabaikalsk border crossings. Xinhua says only that preparatory work is under way and that the railway department aims to start construction as early as possible; no date is given.
- Details of the Yicai report. Only its headline was available, which repeats the milestone and cargo value.