A freight train composed of 50 cars - fully loaded with auto parts, electronic products and epidemic prevention and control supplies - departed from Central China's transportation hub in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, on Jan 2, bound for Germany. Its departure made it the first freight train to leave for Europe this year.
The China-Europe freight train provides reliable transport and its freight costs are more than third less than that of air transportation.
At the same time, there are fewer types of restricted shipments, ensuring a smoother export channel for products that are restricted by air transportation, including electronic products and cosmetics.
It has become the main transportation channel for China's foreign trade enterprises to import and export, and has played an important role in stabilizing global supply and industrial chains.
In recent years, through the linking up of marine shipping lines and the China-Europe Freight Train (Wuhan), an international logistics network system - with Wuhan as its transit hub - has been formed.
Wuhan is an important node city of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The China-Europe Freight Train (Wuhan) will drive the development of the export-oriented economy in Hubei province and across Central China.
In 2020, the China-Europe Freight Train (Wuhan) made a total of 215 round trips. Year 2021 marks the 10th year since the launch of the freight train service. A total of 400 round trips are planned for 2021.
