SNCF Fret has celebrated the arrival of the first container train from Chinese city Wuhan (Hubei province), that arrived at Saint-Priest terminal, outside Lyon. The direct train linking the two countries began its operation on April 6. The train traveled 11,300 km carrying mechanical, electronic and chemical products in 41 containers.
The train covered the distance within 15 days, instead 50 days by using sea transport. ‘Sea transport is cheaper, but railways are intermediary between the ship and the aircraft,’ Philippe Moritz, Communication Director of SNCF said.
Back to China, the train will transport vehicles, wine and agricultural products made in France. Subsequently, three trains China-Europe should run every week, a decision which aims at rehabilitating the Silk Road.
The route of the train is from China through Alataw Pass in Xinjiang, and pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany before reaching its destination.
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