The first direct container train has been sent from Chengdu, China, to Antwerp, Belgium, which will transit through Kazakhstan. The specialized DPD train for La Poste includes 55 containers with cross-border e-commerce goods and products requiring cold chain compliance. The route runs through the Altynkol checkpoint, then the train will pass through Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany.
After arriving at the port of Antwerp-Bruges, the cargo will be promptly redistributed by rail to Western and Southern European countries – Spain, Italy, France, Germany and the UK. The travel time will be 16-18 days, and further delivery to key European countries will take only 2-3 days. This scheme provides customers with a convenient “one stop – several stages of distribution” format.
The Chengdu – Antwerp route has become the first direct rail connection between the cities. Thus, the network of Chengdu International Express has expanded to 126 destinations, strengthening the position of China and transit countries, including Kazakhstan, in international logistics.