China-Europe freight train trips top 50,000

The total number of China-Europe freight train trips has exceeded 50,000 as a cargo train left the southwestern city of Chengdu on Saturday for Nuremberg in Germany, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

The value of goods transported by the cargo service skyrocketed from 8 billion U.S. dollars in 2016 to 74.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, an increase of more than 9 times, said the company.

During the six-year period, the number of train services recorded an average annual growth of 55 percent after all railway routes were merged into the "China-Europe freight train service" brand and given blue coloring in June 2016.

With 78 routes planned, the service now reaches 180 cities in 23 European countries, transporting more than 50,000 types of goods including IT products, automobiles and parts, chemicals, mechanical and electronic products, according to the company.

The China-Europe freight train service kicked off operation in 2011 and has since served as a crucial link for trade and economic cooperation across the Eurasian continent.