Xi'an-Europe Freight Train Service Hits Record Highs with Enhanced Efficiency

 

XI'AN, June 24 (Lightning News) – With a resounding whistle, the X8489 train, laden with automobiles, machinery parts, household appliances, and other goods, recently departed from Xi'an International Port Station bound for Duisburg, Germany. This marks the 2,500th Xi'an-Europe freight train operated this year, with key metrics including the number of trains, loaded railcars, and freight volume all surging by over 30% year-on-year. Core indicators firmly place it among the top performers nationally.

 

 

Rising Proportion of Return Trips; "Single-Consignment" System Smoothes Distribution

The return leg of the Xi'an-Europe freight train service has shown remarkable performance this year. In 2024, return trips accounted for 54% of total operations, climbing to 60% in the first quarter of this year.

"The output of our overseas factories has increased, leading to higher volumes of return cargo. Besides traditional grains, oils, and foodstuffs, we now ship our own noodles and feed," said Liu Dongmeng, Party Secretary of Xi'an Aiju Grain and Oil Industrial Group. "We plan to further expand the variety and scale of agricultural products, bringing high-quality produce from Kazakhstan's premium regions to our tables." This transformation is credited to closer trade ties fostered by the Belt and Road Initiative, easier sourcing, and efforts by Xi'an Railway Bureau to optimize transport organization and enhance external collaboration.

 

Early this year, Xi'an Railway Bureau operated a freight train carrying 1,300 tons of finished flour from Kazakhstan directly into Aiju's industrial park in Xi'an. This marked the first "door-to-door" transport service for the company, eliminating the need for truck transshipment, significantly boosting efficiency, and reducing logistics costs.

 

As a key hub for the China-Europe freight train network, Xi'an International Port Station also handles the critical task of distributing return cargo. To enhance efficiency, Xi'an Railway Bureau launched a "single-consignment system" for rail-water intermodal transport. "Take the 45 containers of kraft paper imported from Russia," explained Zhang Qitao, Deputy General Manager of Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd. "Using the 'single-consignment' method from Xi'an Port to Taicang Port cut the total transit time by 3 days, improved efficiency by over 30%, and reduced costs by about 25%." This system enables seamless rail-water transfer through "one-time entrustment, one bill of lading throughout, direct container delivery, and one-time settlement," greatly improving efficiency.

 

"Four Out, Three Back" Timetable Trains Drive Dual Improvement in Quality and Efficiency

In recent years, Xi'an Railway Bureau, in collaboration with Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transport Co., has intensified efforts with key clients, optimized route networks, expanded sources for bulk commodity imports, and increased the frequency of inbound trains across various routes. Amidst volatile international situations, it has maintained high-frequency, stable weekly operations of end-to-end timetable trains both domestically and internationally. Starting June 15, 2024, the frequency of these timetable trains increased from "two out, one back" per week to "four out, three back" per week, making it the most densely scheduled end-to-end timetable train service in the country.

 

Valued for their speed and reliability, these end-to-end timetable trains are favored by shippers with high timeliness demands. The average value per container is 41% higher than regular China-Europe freight trains. Cargo manifests reveal a renewal of "traditional exports" (like Aiju oils, Shaanqi automobiles, Longi photovoltaic products, TPV monitors) and the rise of "new high-value products" (like Janssen pharmaceuticals, Konka appliances). Currently, 17,000 enterprises have utilized the Xi'an-Europe freight train service, with 387 Shaanxi-based companies using it for import/export.

 

As of May 21, the Xi'an-Europe end-to-end timetable trains have cumulatively operated 511 trips, providing robust transport capacity to support foreign trade growth and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

 

Digital Intelligence Boosts Operational Efficiency

To enhance the Xi'an-Europe freight train service's efficiency, Xi'an Railway Bureau leverages IoT, big data, and AI to build a smart yard system. This system collects data like vehicle/container numbers via access control, video surveillance, and cargo weighing, enabling data sharing with the 95306 system and integrated service platforms.

 

Building on this, the Xi'an Railway Bureau Logistics Center developed mini-programs for entry/exit management at the North and South freight yards of Xi'an International Port Station. It created system identities for 15 internal and external units, over 100 transport drivers, and 1,300+ commuter vehicles, providing accurate data support for access management. Furthermore, control platform systems were installed on 5 reach stackers and 3 gantry cranes within the port area for precise tracking of container operations and handling stages. Over 20 key operational areas are monitored by cameras, allowing unified video dispatch.

 

The bureau also integrated its existing freight control platform with the smart yard system, creating a "1+3+N" intelligent application framework. This comprises a central integrated control management service platform and three subsystems: production integration management, comprehensive intelligent service management, and digital yard management. Once completed, Xi'an International Port Station will feature functions like mutual production control, shared loading progress, real-time full-process monitoring, and prompt incident response, further unleashing the operational capacity of the China-Europe freight trains.

Cars in Containers: Helping "Made in China" Vehicles Reach the World

According to Xi'an Customs, Shaanxi exported 89,500 vehicles worth 13.784 billion yuan in the first quarter, marking year-on-year increases of 73.82% and 63.02% respectively. This export volume represents 37% of the province's total vehicle exports in 2023. To support the global expansion of "Made in China" vehicles, Xi'an Railway Bureau strengthened cooperation with CRSC Special Logistics Co., Ltd. Xi'an Branch, focusing on accelerating the modern railway logistics system through logistics transformation, intelligent system construction, and transport structure optimization.

 

On April 10th at Xinfengzhen Station, the newly launched BYD Tang L model underwent final trial loading tests before being transported via specialized rail cars to Guotang Station in Guangdong. "The equipment model JSQ6 is specially designed for vehicle transport," explained Cao Fengyuan, head of the BYD project team at CRSC Special Logistics Xi'an Branch. They customize transport plans based on vehicle dimensions and requirements.

 

The BYD Tang L was officially launched on April 9th. CRSC Special Logistics Xi'an Branch quickly proposed tailored railcar loading plans ("4 standard Tang L + 5 Song" or "2 drone version Tang L on lower deck") for this large Class II vehicle, winning the client's approval for the first shipment. As of May 21st, the company's cumulative vehicle shipments this year have increased by 28% year-on-year.

 

Strong Growth Momentum with Impressive Data

Key indicators for the Xi'an-Europe freight train service have repeatedly hit new highs this year, with the number of trains, loaded railcars, and freight volume all up by over 30%. Xi'an International Port Station has broken its loading record 8 times this year, with a record 1,530 railcars loaded on March 29th. According to the latest data from China State Railway Group, the service operated 2,246 trips in the first four months of the year, a robust 57% increase compared to the same period last year.

 

Simultaneously, Xi'an Railway Bureau is actively expanding its transport network and strengthening cooperation with coastal ports and logistics hubs. It has established stable rail-sea intermodal routes connecting ports like Qingdao and Ningbo-Beilun, enabling river-sea combined transport and opening more efficient export channels for inland enterprises. It also operates feeder trains radiating to logistics hubs like Yantai, Guangzhou, and Ningbo, further enhancing the consolidation capacity of Xi'an International Port Station, broadening the service's reach, and strengthening regional economic ties and trade flows.