The agreement commits the authorities to push for better railway infrastructure to enhance the speed, convenience and competitiveness of services, and to improve customs procedures. In addition, information sharing platforms will be incorporated to improve safety, while a joint work team will be formed to solve problems associated with the transcontinental rail freight.

China is pushing the growth of rail freight to Europe as part of its “One Belt One Road” economic strategy and transit countries are steadily embracing the initiative as a means of enhancing their own infrastructure and promoting economic development.

Since the first transcontinental service was launched in 2011, the network has grown to serve 27 Chinese cities and 28 destinations across Europe.

For more on the development of China-Europe rail freight, see the April issue of IRJ p18, or click here.