On the morning of January 27, the sixth day of Chinese New Year, a special freight train bounded for European countries including Poland and Germany departed from the Changsha North Railway Station. The train was fully-loaded with clothing, shoes and hats, articles of daily use, and electronic products. It was the first China-Europe freight train operated by the Hunan Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Changsha Area Yuhua District Blocks in 2023.

The international needs for the China-Europe freight train service boomed in recent years. During the Spring Festival holiday, the FTZ Changsha Area Yuhua District Blocks seized the European market and exported famous and high-quality products with Hunan characteristics via the China-Europe freight train service, to accumulate strength for boosting Hunan's economic development. 

In order to ensure smooth operation of the freight trains, Hunan's railway authorities conquered difficulties such as personnel shortage and cargo backlog, and took the initiative to collaborate with foreign trade enterprises. They learned about production and delivery plans of clients in advance, arranged delivery schedule, and coordinated railways, platform companies, customs, and industrial parks. "Green lanes" for the freight trains had been opened based on the arrangement, unloading, and inspection priority principles. Planning and communication, delivery, and loading and unloading processes had been streamlined to ensure safe, efficient, and smooth operation of the China-Europe freight trains.

Changsha has operated the China-Europe freight trains for over eight years, with an on-schedule rate of more than 99%, said a person in charge of the Changsha freight transport center. So far, the Changsha North Railway Station has maintained a stable operation of six to seven trains for go-return routes every week. An average annual growth of 135% has been achieved. As of January 27, 85 freight trains had departed from the Changsha North Railway Station this year. A good start has been seen in the China-Europe freight train service in Changsha at the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Voice of Hunan