A China-Europe freight train, carrying auto components and various goods, departed from Horgos Port in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Sunday, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland. This departure marked a milestone, as the total number of China-Europe freight trains passing through Xinjiang’s Horgos and Alashankou ports surpassed 90,000. According to China Railway Urumqi Group Co., this achievement strengthens high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
To enhance efficiency, Xinjiang railway authorities have improved scheduling and coordination across key routes, such as Lanzhou-Xinjiang, Jinghe-Horgos, and China-Kazakhstan lines. Efforts include unified dispatching, optimized timetables, streamlined cargo movement, and prioritization of cross-border train handling, from reloading to departure. Additionally, return freight services have been expanded, accelerating train turnover and overall operational efficiency, according to a statement from China Railway Urumqi Group Co.
To facilitate smoother cross-border operations, Chinese and Kazakh railway authorities have reinforced cooperation, with joint teams overseeing daily scheduling at border ports. These efforts led to record broad-gauge train volumes in March, reaching up to 15 train pairs per day, as per the statement.
According to Li Ankang, deputy director of the safety production command center at China Railway Urumqi Group Co.’s Horgos station, daily container swaps at the station have risen from 10 to 15 batches, enabling quicker departures. The number of China-Europe trains now exceeds 23 per day. Since early 2025, the station has improved platform capacity, resource allocation, and personnel deployment to enhance container-swapping efficiency.
Li also highlighted the establishment of a dedicated service window for China-Europe trains, allowing customs and border inspections to be completed simultaneously in one stop. This has reduced the inspection and clearance time for each train by 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, Urumqi Customs has introduced round-the-clock appointment services, tax incentives, and joint inspections with border control to expedite freight clearance. Xinjiang border authorities have also increased staffing and implemented tech-driven management to ensure smooth and secure cross-border train operations, the statement noted.
Currently, 123 China-Europe freight train routes pass through Alashankou Port, linking 21 countries, including Germany and Poland. Horgos railway port facilitates 87 routes, connecting 46 cities and regions across 18 countries.
Official statistics show that Xinjiang’s two railway ports handled 16,400 China-Europe freight trains in 2024, marking a 14% year-on-year increase. This maintains a five-year trend of handling over 10,000 trains annually, with consistent four-digit growth. These transcontinental routes play a crucial role in China’s foreign trade, reinforcing Eurasian connectivity with cost-effective and reliable cargo transportation.
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