Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Lu Fengbao, Chen Qiangwei)

On August 12, 2023, patches of clouds blocked the sun and brought coolness to Chongqing.

At the Xinglongchang Railway Station in Shapingba District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, the locomotive driver Jiang Tong got into the cab and prepared for departure, relieving the brake and pushing the forward handle. The train was then gently started as he turned to look forward.

Photo taken on August 12, 2023 shows Jiang Tong checks the locomotive information in the cab. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Lu Fengbao)

Jiang Tong, a locomotive driver at Chongqing Depot of China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd., has a special identity as the first one to drive the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe International Railway train.

“To this day, I still can’t believe that I am the first one to drive the China-Europe freight train,” said Jiang Tong, sitting in the driver’s cab, his mind filled with images of the inaugural run.

Let’s go back 12 years. As the first one to drive the China-Europe freight train, Jiang Tong felt honored and was also deeply aware of the great responsibility. In order to ensure the safe operation of the train, he simulated driving in the classroom, practiced operational skills repeatedly, and learned from his experience. He also borrowed books on locomotive principles and construction diagrams, and studied them carefully. He would squat in the mechanical room, comparing the information with the actual components, familiarizing himself with various parts of the locomotive and mastering their working principles.

As the day of the first departure of the China-Europe freight train approached, Jiang Tong became increasingly excited, and he couldn’t sleep the night before the inaugural run. “I kept practicing the driving movements in my mind over and over again.”

As the night fled and dawn arrived, on the early morning of March 19, 2011, Jiang Tong dressed in his uniform, wearing a cap and a tie. He carefully checked everything twice and arrived 15 minutes earlier at the driver’s cab. After inspecting the locomotive’s surroundings, he got in the cab and conducted another round of thorough checks, ensuring everything was in order. He adjusted the signals and waited for the departure signal.

“It was as lively as the New Year.” Although more than 10 years have passed, the scene of the first China-Europe freight train departure was deeply engraved in Jiang Tong’s memory, becoming a part of his life. “There was a crowd of people outside, constantly taking pictures with their cameras,” he recalled.

After receiving the departure order from the station master, Jiang Tong sounded the long whistle, released the brake, and pushed the forward handle. Amidst the horn of the locomotive, the first China-Europe freight train, loaded with electronic products, departed from Tuanjiecun Station in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. It passed through Dazhou, Ankang, Xi’an, Lanzhou, Urumqi, and Alashankou before leaving China, and finally arrived at its destination, Duisburg, Germany. The 16-day journey covered a distance of 11,179 kilometers, marking the beginning of the China-Europe freight train service.

However, many people are unaware that Jiang Tong’s task was not to complete the entire journey of the China-Europe freight train. In fact, numerous drivers would take turns to operate the train from Chongqing to Duisburg. Jiang Tong’s responsibility was to drive about 242 kilometers from Tuanjiecun Station to Dazhou, Sichuan Province, which was the first leg of the China-Europe freight trains.

Three hours after the departure, the China-Europe freight train successfully arrived at Dazhou in Sichuan Province, and Jiang Tong satisfactorily accomplished his mission. The remaining journey was completed through the collaborative efforts of multiple drivers along the route.

"After getting off the train, I couldn't calm down for several days." In the marshalling yard, long trains come in and out. Such scenes have become commonplace for Jiang Tong, but as long as he spots the China-Europe freight trains, he can't help but look at them more.

Years have passed quickly. After Chongqing took the lead in opening international freight trains to Europe, Urumqi, Xi'an, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Yiwu and other places have opened freight trains to Central Asia and Europe. Especially after the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, China-Europe Railway Express all over China developed rapidly.

At the beginning of the operation of the China-Europe Railway Express, there were only 1-2 trains every week. Since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, more and more trains have been sent from Chongqing to Central Asia and European markets through Xinjiang. The highest number of trains operated is 7-8 trains per week. Up to now, 14,000 trains have operated cumulatively, with nearly 50 stable operation lines, and these lines have become a veritable international trade arteries running through Eurasia. The goods transported have also expanded from the initial electronic products and vehicles to tens of thousands of goods such as intelligent terminals, vehicles and components, cross-border e-commerce goods and light industrial products.

Sometimes, when shopping at the supermarket and seeing foreign products on the shelves, Jiang Tong can’t help but feel proud and think, “Maybe this is something we transported.”

Next year, Jiang Tong will retire, but he remains enthusiastic. Whenever he receives a duty assignment, he puts on his cap, carries his backpack, and briskly gets on the locomotive. “From Chongqing to Europe through Xinjiang, even on my last day of work, I want to drive the first leg of the freight train with excellence,” he said.

“Have you ever thought about driving the China-Europe freight train all the way to Xinjiang?” the reporter asked.

Of course, I have thought about it. I have always dreamed of driving to Xinjiang, and even to Europe,” Jiang Tong immediately replied even before the reporter to finish the sentence.

“However, the specification of the job requires us not to operate the train outside our jurisdiction,” Jiang Tong regretfully said, “But after my retirement next year, I will go to Alashankou and see how the China-Europe freight train leaves the country.”

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