In the first half of this year, the freight train trips handled through the Changsha New Port Special Railway Line recorded a 22% increase, while automobile deliveries through the line based on its roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) service grow 69% year on year. The stable growth in port data demonstrates strong resilience of Changsha's economic development. 

The Changsha New Port data between January and June shows a stable growth, demonstrating strong resilience of Changsha's economic development. (Photo/Wang Zhiwei) 

The Hunan authority recently released Guidelines on Promoting the High-quality Development of Multimodal Transport. According to the guidelines, by 2030, a well-structured, efficiently connected, green, and intelligent multimodal transport network will be basically established in Hunan Province. A development pattern featuring dominated role of waterway and rail transport in medium-to-long-distance transportation of bulk cargo and containers will take shape, aiming to reduce logistics costs. Compared with 2025, the cargo turnover volume through waterways and railways is expected to increase by about 10% and 14% respectively, and the annual average growth rate of port container throughput based on rail-water intermodal transport service will stand at about 15%.

Changsha's first special railway line for port transportation was officially opened and put into operation in 2023, which seamlessly connects with the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway. With this line, the Changsha New Port has been transformed from a port of departure and arrival to a multimodal transport hub. 

Since its operation, this special railway line has been mainly used for transporting steel, containers, and other bulk cargos. With shortened transit distance as a result of direct connection between the railway line and port, and the traditional advantages of water transport—large capacity, high energy efficiency, and environmental friendliness, this line has significantly reduced transportation costs for enterprises. 

The operation of the Changsha New Port Special Railway Line has completed the water-rail intermodal transport service. (Photo/Wang Zhiwei) 

The Changsha New Port is one of China's 36 major inland river ports, undertaking transportation tasks for various large-scale goods in Hunan Province. Notably, it has Changsha's only specialized automobile ro-ro terminal. With the development of the new energy vehicle industry in the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan area, the port's automobile throughput via the ro-ro service has exceeded 190,000, demonstrating a steady annual growth.

Today, the port's ro-ro transport service covers a broader range, extending to Sichuan, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Fujian, Shandong, and Hubei provinces, and linking the Xiangjiang River to North and South America, and Africa. It provides cargo distribution services for Hunan's key industries such as steel, machinery manufacturing, automobiles, electronics, chemicals, and fireworks. This robust network effectively ensures stable and unimpeded industrial and supply chains.

The Changsha New Port is one of China's 36 major inland river ports, undertaking transportation tasks for various large-scale goods in Hunan Province. (Photo/Wang Zhiwei)

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

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Changsha Evening News