Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Suo Rongzhi) news: At 14:56 on March 6, 2024, BJT, accompanied by the sound of the whistle, a China-Europe freight train carrying a total of 47 sets of containers, 797.7 tons of goods including air conditioners, refrigerators, and polyester slices, slowly departed from the Urumqi International Land Port Area in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. After being outbound from the Horgos Port, it is expected to arrive in Almaty, Kazakhstan at 23:20 local time on March 7, 2024. The dispatch of this train marks the successful maiden voyage of Xinjiang’s first full timetable for China-Europe freight train.

Xinjiang launches first full timetable for China-Europe freight train. (Photo by Tong Tong)

The full timetable for China-Europe freight train refers to the China-Europe freight train that launches according to the agreed train number, route, frequency, and fixed domestic and foreign departure, port, and arrival times along the railway lines of different countries. In simpler terms, it means that as the China-Europe freight train runs on different-gauge railway lines at home and abroad, there are clear requirements for coordinating schedules.

After full timetable for the China-Europe freight train began operating, the operation time of each link of the China-Europe freight train was effectively controlled by coordinating the timetables of freight trains on different-gauge railway segments. This has eliminated unnecessary delays for train reloading at the port, thus improving transportation efficiency and enhancing the overall performance and market competitiveness of the China-Europe freight train.

It is understood that this train was organized and dispatched by Xinjiang International Land Port (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Xinjiang Commercial and Trade Logistics Group. With the support and coordination of various units such as China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd. and the Urumqi Branch of China Railway Container Transport Co., Ltd., the timetable for the China-Europe freight train between Urumqi and Almaty has achieved full connectivity for the first time.

The train will depart from Urumqi West Station in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and arrive at Almaty in Kazakhstan following a passenger train schedule. Customs clearance, and loading and unloading operations will take place at the Horgos Port, with all operations including border inspections and international departure inspections controlled within five hours. The entire journey will take 35 hours and 24 minutes, reducing more than 60 percent of travel time compared to ordinary China-Europe freight trains. The full timetable for the China-Europe freight train has effectively improved traffic efficiency in both domestic and international transport. The operation of full timetable for China-Europe freight train ensures the security of the international supply chain, facilitates the "dual circulation" development pattern in which domestic economic cycle plays a leading role while international economic cycle remains its extension and supplement, and injected new energy to the Asia-Europe trade exchanges, marking a new stage of high-quality development of the China-Europe Railway Express in Xinjiang.

Starting from March 6, Xinjiang International Land Port (Group) Co., Ltd. will operate a fixed weekly schedule of Urumqi-Almaty for its clients.

Xinjiang International Land Port (Group) Co., Ltd. will focus on market demand, continuously strengthen business coordination with domestic and international clients, optimize regional logistics organization, and gradually expand the scope of the China-Europe Railway Express schedule.

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