The 40-day 2024 Spring Festival travel rush ended on March 5. According to the Changsha Railway Logistics Center of Guangzhou Railway Group, a total of 137 China-Europe freight trains were operated in Changsha during this period, an increase of 85.2% compared to the same period last year. This year, a total of 219 freight trains were operated, an increase of about 80% compared to the same period in 2023. 

“It has become a habit to choose China-Europe freight trains for many export and import enterprises.” Zhang Xinlin, deputy director of the marketing department of Changsha Railway Logistics Center, introduced that Chian Railway Express has attracted many enterprises in the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta region and Hunan Province because of multiple advantages like large freight volume, low price and less environmental impact.

“The categories of goods have been expanded from porcelain, small commodities and others to large manufacturing products such as sedan cars and construction machinery that are suitable for container transportation.”

The supply structure of CR Express Changsha has undergone significant changes since 2021. Large manufacturing enterprises in Hunan province have chosen freight train services to export goods, and 30% to 40% of the local supplies are automotive parts and machinery products. 

The railway logistics department tailors customized transportation plans for enterprises to solve problems like varying specifications of components of large mechanical equipment and loading reinforcement plans. 

In the first two months of this year, CR Express Changsha handled 34 freight trains for enterprises in Hunan province like Zoomlion, Sany and Sunward.

BAIC Foton Automotive Co., Ltd. Recently shipped 100 Foton light trucks overseas for the first time via freight trains. The modest cost, stability and timeliness will contribute to the rapid development of the whole commercial vehicle export market.

Meanwhile, CR Express Changsha has launched “early declaration” service based on its advantages. This helps reduce loading and unloading costs for enterprises, improve loading and unloading efficiency, and provide diversified transportation services for SMEs.

Now, over 4,000 freight trains have been operated by CRE Changsha so far, with 12 freight routes, covering about 30 countries and 100 cities in Asia and Europe, as well as two-thirds of China.