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First transcontinental freight train from China arrives in the capital

The first container train travelling between China and the UK has christened the new transcontinental route after arriving at DB Cargo’s terminal in Barking.

The new 12,000km route, which has been dubbed as the new Silk Road, stretches from Yiwu in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang, all the way to London as part of a major China-Europe rail link.

Taking 18 days to reach its destination, the rail link offers a freight route that is twice as fast as transporting cargo by sea, and includes stop offs at Duisburg, Madrid, Afghanistan and Riga.

The first test train was loaded with textiles and consumer goods and had its 34’ x 40’ containers, which are designed specifically for transport through the Channel Tunnel, were loaded during a stop at Duisburg container terminal.

Cargo changes are required numerous times along the route due to changes in track gauge across the route as the train threads its way across borders and continents.

Cargo volume along the ‘Silk Road’ route is expected to swell to around 100,000 containers by 2020, owed in part due to the addition of the new London stop.

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