The freight train departing from Beijing today marks the launch of China’s first multimodal rail-sea-rail freight service crossing the Caspian Sea to Europe.
Carrying approximately 2,300 tons of auto parts, machinery, and books in 104 containers, the train’s final destination is Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Using a “rail-sea-rail” multimodal transportation route, the train covers over 8,000 kilometers and reduces shipping time from about 50 days to 15 days.
The train starts from Fangshan District in southwest Beijing, exits China via the Horgos border port in the northwest, travels through Kazakhstan, crosses the Caspian Sea by ferry, and then continues by rail to Baku. Some of the cargo will be further distributed to Georgia, Turkey, Serbia, and other regions.
According to Lu Peng, Director of the Fangshan Commerce Bureau, this new route represents an important step in expanding diversified corridors for China-Europe freight originating in Beijing and helps build a comprehensive international logistics network combining direct rail routes and rail-sea-rail transport.