Beijing opens route to Baku
A new China–Europe freight train route from Beijing (China) to Baku (Azerbaijan) has been launched, marking the Chinese capital’s first multimodal corridor across the Caspian Sea.
The service uses a rail–sea–rail concept and reduces the transit time from 50 to around 15 days according to China's state council.
The first train, carrying 104 teu with 2,300 t of goods, including auto parts and machinery, on board, departed from Fangshan district on Monday.
It exits China at Horgos, travels through Kazakhstan, crosses the Caspian Sea by ferry and is transported to Baku by rail. Some cargo will be forwarded to Georgia, Turkey and Serbia.
The route aims to diversify China–Europe logistics channels and strengthen Beijing’s international transport links. (js)