In 2024, China-Europe freight train services experienced significant growth. Trains made 19,000 trips, up 10% compared to the previous year, and carried more than 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of cargo, marking a 9% increase. Launched in 2011 as the cornerstone of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the service now connects 227 cities in 25 European countries and more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries. Since 2011, the transcontinental rail network has transported more than 11 million TEUs of goods worth over $420 billion.
The Eurasian rail revolution is primarily driven by growing trade between the major economies of China and the European Union. Data from the General Administration of Customs of China shows that trade between China and the EU increased in 2024, despite ongoing trade frictions and a slower European economy. Bilateral trade volume reached 5.59 trillion yuan ($762 billion), representing a 1.6% increase compared to the previous year. The EU remained China’s second largest trading partner after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The China-EU railway bridge has brought significant benefits to the countries along its route in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, especially landlocked countries. Improved transport accessibility is expected to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and attract investment. Moreover, improved transport connectivity facilitates scientific, cultural, and humanitarian exchanges, further enhancing cooperation among all the involved countries.
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202502/12/WS67abe0c7a310a2ab06eaba41.html