China's Ereenhot port sees major rise in global freight train services

The port has witnessed a rapid rise in China-Europe freight trains over the past decade, according to a report on a Chinese government website.

To increase efficiency, the railway port has improved its services by building a ‘smart border inspection platform’, offering customs clearance 24 hours a day and carrying out contact-free inspection in accordance with epidemic control protocols.

"The station has launched a series of facilitation initiatives such as priority inspection for China-Europe freight trains and special channels for epidemic prevention materials," the station's director, Amgalan, said.

"Abiding by epidemic control protocols, we make every effort to ensure the safe and efficient passage of China-Europe trains and to boost the high-quality development of the economy in the border area," he added.

Only two such train services were facilitated in 2013, while last year, the port saw 2,739 trains pass through. There are 57 routes connecting more than 50 cities in 22 regions in China and 44 stops in nine countries.

With the expansion of the China-Europe freight train network, agricultural and industrial products from all over China can be transported on outbound trains to be sold abroad. The inbound trains carry overseas goods to China.

China State Railway Group has said a new national railway schedule will operate from April 8, with more China-Europe freight train services scheduled to better serve international supply chains and improve high-quality opening-up.

By January, there had been more than 50,000 China-Europe freight train trips through all border ports.

The value of goods transported by the cargo services has skyrocketed from $8 billion in 2016 to $74.9 billion last year, an increase of more than 9 times, according to the group.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)