Guangming Online (Reporter Tao Yuan) – On April 24, the X8151 China-Europe Railway Express, carrying auto parts, new energy materials, and other cargo, departed from Xi'an International Port Station for Duisburg, Germany. The departure marked a new milestone as the China-Europe Railway Express (Xi'an) surpassed 2,000 train services in 2026, with cumulative cargo transportation exceeding 2.1 million tonnes, reaching this milestone five days earlier than in 2025.
Since the beginning of 2026, China Railway Xi'an Group Co., Ltd. (Xi'an Railway Bureau) has fully leveraged the strategic role of the Xi'an China-Europe Railway Express Assembly Center by expanding international corridors, upgrading logistics services, promoting digital and intelligent operations, and strengthening industrial integration. According to China State Railway Group, the China-Europe Railway Express (Xi'an) operated 1,631 trains during the first quarter of 2026, representing a 7.4% year-on-year increase. Among them, 1,404 trains served European destinations and 227 trains operated to Central Asia. Outbound services totaled 708 trains, while return services reached 923 trains. The railway transported 1.727 million tonnes of cargo, equivalent to 153,000 TEUs. Xi'an accounted for nearly 30% of all China-Europe Railway Express services nationwide, maintaining its leading position across key operational indicators.
"Since November 2025, we have maintained regular scheduled China-Europe Railway Express services from Xi'an to Duisburg (Germany), Prague (Czech Republic), and Budapest (Hungary), creating a stable operating schedule of six outbound and three inbound departures every week," said Liu Shunli, Director of Freight Operations at Xi'an International Port Business Office. Fixed-schedule services significantly improve cross-border logistics efficiency by standardizing train timetables and minimizing border transshipment time. The fastest Xi'an–Duisburg service now takes only 12 days, approximately 30% faster than conventional freight trains. The newly launched Xi'an–Poti Trans-Caspian route reaches Georgia in as little as 11 days, reducing transit time by around 25%. Today, Xi'an's international rail network connects more than 200 cities in 26 countries.
Zhong Shuheng, Duty Station Manager at Xi'an International Port Station, explained that railway operations have been optimized through digital dispatching and intelligent scheduling. By monitoring train formations, wagon allocation, yard capacity, and loading progress in real time, the station has increased locomotive efficiency, optimized shunting operations, and reduced non-operational waiting time. In addition, the station has introduced the new FXN3B hybrid locomotive, which combines diesel and electric power while utilizing regenerative braking technology. The hybrid system reduces fuel consumption and emissions, supporting both greener and smarter China-Europe Railway Express operations.
Improving logistics services has become a key driver of the high-quality development of the China-Europe Railway Express. Xi'an Railway Bureau has upgraded its service model from traditional transportation to integrated end-to-end logistics solutions, providing comprehensive supply chain services that improve operational efficiency. "Transit times have been significantly shortened, deliveries are more reliable, overseas customers have greater confidence in our services, and our capital turnover has improved considerably," said Li Ye, General Manager of Xi'an Xinsaifu International Logistics Co., Ltd. Since the beginning of the year, increasing volumes of new energy vehicles (NEVs), lithium batteries, photovoltaic modules, and other high-value products have been transported via the China-Europe Railway Express. The range of cargo has expanded to more than 200 products across nine major categories, helping "Made in Shaanxi" products reach international markets.
Looking ahead, Xi'an Railway Bureau will continue strengthening cooperation with local governments, foreign trade enterprises, and logistics platform companies. Through expanding international transport corridors, optimizing logistics services, accelerating digital transformation, and promoting industrial collaboration, the China-Europe Railway Express (Xi'an) aims to achieve even higher standards of efficiency, reliability, and safety while providing stronger support for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and further enhancing Shaanxi's role as an inland gateway for international trade.
