Reported by Zhang Di, Dazhong News, with contributions from Wu Chenxi.
Recently, with the departure of China-Europe Railway Express train X8037 from Zhengzhou Putian Station bound for Hamburg, Germany, the cumulative number of China-Europe Railway Express operations surpassed 130,000 trains, with total transported cargo value exceeding USD 520 billion. Over 13 years of development, this "Steel Silk Road" connecting Asia and Europe has grown from a single route into a comprehensive international logistics network, reshaping the global logistics landscape. Throughout this remarkable journey, China Railway Jinan Group has leveraged Shandong's geographical advantages and expanded services along the Yellow River region, delivering strong support for high-level international economic cooperation.
Expanding Transport Networks, Strengthening the Role of Eastern Corridor Hubs
Focusing on the western, central, and eastern corridors within China, railway authorities have continuously optimized China-Europe Railway Express routes. A total of 93 scheduled routes operating at speeds of up to 120 km/h have been established, with service coverage extending across most of Eurasia. As a key node of the eastern corridor, China Railway Jinan Group has actively supported the efficient operation of China-Europe Railway Express services in Shandong. Statistics show that in 2025, Shandong's China-Europe Railway Express operations exceeded 3,000 trains for the first time. Qingdao operated 1,225 trains, an increase of 20.5% year-on-year, exceeding 1,000 trains for the second consecutive year and reaching a seven-year record high. Jinan operated 1,252 trains, up 21.67% year-on-year, ranking first in Shandong Province for six consecutive years.
From January to February 2026, Shandong's China-Europe Railway Express services reached 451 trains, up 18.4% year-on-year, further enhancing the distribution capacity of the eastern corridor hub. Currently, Shandong operates 57 international rail routes, directly connecting 60 cities in 28 Belt and Road partner countries, with cumulative operations exceeding 15,000 trains. Meanwhile, Jiaozhou Station of Qingdao Railway Operation Section introduced an innovative "direct dispatch from loading points" model, allowing locomotives to enter loading areas, attach containers, and depart directly. Each operation saves approximately one hour, improving customs clearance and transfer efficiency through practical railway innovations.
The China-Europe Railway Express network continues to expand. Within China, 129 cities have launched services, while overseas routes now reach hundreds of cities across 37 countries in Europe and Asia, creating a safe, efficient, and interconnected international logistics corridor.
Improving Transport Efficiency with Full-Schedule China-Europe Railway Express Services
Railway authorities have increased the maximum train formation capacity and traction weight of China-Europe Railway Express services to 55 carriages and 3,000 tons respectively. The comprehensive utilization rate of loaded containers remains stable at 100%, better meeting the transportation needs of international trade companies.
Jinan has taken the lead in improving railway logistics efficiency. On November 20, 2025, Jinan launched Shandong Province's first full-schedule China-Europe Railway Express service. The Jinan–Budapest route requires only around 12 days, reducing transit time by approximately 30% compared with standard China-Europe Railway Express services.
Through priority train formation, priority loading, and priority departure arrangements, the service ensures that cargo transportation follows fixed schedules and designated train numbers. This provides greater certainty for high-value and time-sensitive shipments. In 2025, Jiaozhou Station operated by China Railway Jinan Group's Qingdao Railway Operation Section exceeded 690 China-Europe Railway Express trains for the first time, reaching 697 trains throughout the year, an increase of 90 trains year-on-year, with cargo volume reaching 57,000 TEUs, up approximately 17%.
With continuous optimization of transport organization, customs clearance time at major ports has been reduced to within 30 minutes, while six major ports now handle an average of 50.4 trains per day, representing a 21% increase year-on-year. Improved efficiency has strengthened Shandong enterprises' global competitiveness. For example, a manufacturer of high-end railway wheels reduced transportation time from more than one month by sea freight to approximately 12 days via China-Europe Railway Express. Precise arrival schedules provide reliable support for just-in-time production, demonstrating the transformation of China-Europe Railway Express logistics services from simply "operational" to "high-performance."
Upgrading Logistics Services with Jinan-Qingdao National Consolidation Center
Railway authorities continue to operate 22 full-schedule China-Europe Railway Express services. Compared with the early stage of operations, international rail transportation costs have decreased by more than 40%, while the average value of cargo per container has increased by 41%.
In January 2025, the Jinan-Qingdao China-Europe Railway Express National Consolidation Center was approved, becoming one of China's 14 national consolidation centers. The center was later included in both China's and Shandong Province's "15th Five-Year Plan" development strategies.
Driven by strategic planning, Jinan and Qingdao have established a coordination mechanism featuring mutual recognition of train schedules and shared container capacity. The proportion of China-Europe Railway Express services operated through the Jinan-Qingdao consolidation center has increased to 80% of Shandong's total operations. By February 2026, the center had provided coordinated logistics services for 28,000 TEUs of cargo.
Overseas, Shandong's China-Europe Railway Express network has established four overseas consolidation centers in Almaty, Kazakhstan; Inđija, Serbia; Moscow, Russia; and Vientiane, Laos, providing comprehensive logistics services for 94,000 TEUs of cargo. The application of refrigerated containers, temperature-controlled equipment, and electronic seals has improved cargo tracking capabilities and expanded service categories.
The 95306 digital port system continues to improve customs clearance efficiency. Currently, China-Europe Railway Express services transport goods across 53 categories and more than 50,000 product types, with automobiles, auto parts, mechanical equipment, and other high-value products becoming major export commodities.
From the camel caravans traveling along the ancient Silk Road centuries ago to today's "Steel Camel Team" racing across Eurasia, the form has changed, but the pursuit of connectivity and shared prosperity remains unchanged. Standing at a new milestone of more than 130,000 China-Europe Railway Express operations, China Railway Jinan Group will continue strengthening transport corridors, improving service capabilities, and enabling more "Made in Shandong" and Chinese brands to reach global markets. It will contribute further to the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and China's broader opening-up strategy.
