International freight trains in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) have made 20,000 trips so far this year, marking a 40% year-on-year increase.
On June 3, the China-Europe Freight Train X8186 carrying electronics and household appliances left Guangzhou en route to Horgos Port in northwest China. Its departure pushed the GBA's total annual tally of international freight trains past 20,000, with the aggregate value of shipped goods topping 9 billion yuan. Train volumes rose 40%, highlighting the region's shift from a sea-freight-dominated model toward a more diversified and efficient transport system.
Since the launch of the first China-Europe freight service in 2013, more than 5,000 trains have departed from the GBA, carrying goods valued at over 200 billion yuan. The existing rail network serves more than 6,000 enterprises and links over 20 cities across Europe and Asia, including destinations in Germany, Poland and Russia. Transit durations stand steadily at 15 to 18 days, with carbon emissions roughly one-seventh of those generated by road haulage.
The sustained growth stems from enhanced operational efficiency. Railway authorities, customs offices and border stations have widely adopted expedited customs clearance procedures. Following smart upgrades at Guangzhou International Port, loading and unloading time for a single train has been reduced from six hours to four hours, lifting customs clearance efficiency by about 30%.
The cargo composition is also constantly evolving. High value-added products now account for more than half of all shipments via Guangzhou International Port. Cargo scope has expanded from conventional light industrial products to more than 10,000 specifications across 79 categories, including cross-border e-commerce products, new energy vehicles, home appliances and communications equipment.
The service also supports the accelerated development of cross-border e-commerce. Rail transport takes roughly one-third of the time required by sea freight and costs only about one-fifth of air freight expenses, making it well suited to the high-frequency, time-sensitive demands of e-commerce enterprises. Zengchengxi Railway Station has already attracted 11 supply chain companies to adopt freight trains as their primary cross-border logistics option. In April, the GBA's first dedicated China-Europe e-commerce express train departed from Shenzhen and arrived in Budapest in just 15 days, further tightening trade ties between the GBA and Central Europe.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | China Railway Guangzhou Group
