On September 26, the first container train departed from the Chinese city of Xi’an to Germany along a new multimodal route combining rail and sea transport. According to Xinhua, the train is carrying auto parts, digital equipment, and consumer goods, bound for the German port of Hamburg.
The train passes through Kazakhstan and Russia, reaching St. Petersburg, where the cargo is transferred to a ship for further delivery across the Baltic Sea to Hamburg. From there, the products will be distributed to other logistics hubs in Europe, including Duisburg and Budapest.
The new route has become an important alternative to traditional land routes through Belarus and Poland, which have recently been compromised by political factors. It strengthens the resilience of transport links between China and Europe, ensuring stable supplies and expanding international trade opportunities.