China-Europe Railway Express & New Air Cargo Route Launched
China’s First 2026 China-Europe Railway Express via Caspian Sea Corridor Departs Xi’an, Transit Time Shortened to ~11 Days
Xi’an, January 1, 2026 — At midnight on New Year’s Day, a China-Europe Railway Express (Xi’an) loaded with 45 containers of photovoltaic modules slowly departed from Xi’an International Gateway Station, marking the official launch of China’s first Caspian Sea-crossing International Transport Corridor train in 2026. The train will exit China via the Horgos Port, pass through Kazakhstan, cross the Caspian Sea, and finally arrive in Baku, Azerbaijan. The total transit time has been significantly shortened from 15-23 days when the route was first launched in 2019 to approximately 11 days currently.
As a key hub for the China-Europe Railway Express, Xi’an has actively participated in the construction of the Caspian Sea-crossing International Transport Corridor in recent years, conducting in-depth cooperation with countries in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region to further reduce enterprise logistics costs and improve transportation efficiency. The operation of this Caspian Sea-crossing train not only provides a more efficient logistics channel for trade between China and Eurasian regions but also opens up a new path for the export of new energy products such as photovoltaic modules.
It is reported that the annual number of China-Europe Railway Express trips reached 34,000 in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 9.8%, hitting a record high. At the start of 2026, China-Europe Railway Express trains have been launched intensively in many regions: the first train from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area departed from Guangzhou Zengcheng West Station, and Wuhan opened a new direct route to Copenhagen. These moves have further strengthened the connectivity of the Eurasian continental trade corridor.
China’s First 2026 China-Europe Railway Express via Caspian Sea Corridor Departs Xi’an, Transit Time Shortened to ~11 Days
Xi’an, January 1, 2026 — At midnight on New Year’s Day, a China-Europe Railway Express (Xi’an) loaded with 45 containers of photovoltaic modules slowly departed from Xi’an International Gateway Station, marking the official launch of China’s first Caspian Sea-crossing International Transport Corridor train in 2026. The train will exit China via the Horgos Port, pass through Kazakhstan, cross the Caspian Sea, and finally arrive in Baku, Azerbaijan. The total transit time has been significantly shortened from 15-23 days when the route was first launched in 2019 to approximately 11 days currently.
As a key hub for the China-Europe Railway Express, Xi’an has actively participated in the construction of the Caspian Sea-crossing International Transport Corridor in recent years, conducting in-depth cooperation with countries in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region to further reduce enterprise logistics costs and improve transportation efficiency. The operation of this Caspian Sea-crossing train not only provides a more efficient logistics channel for trade between China and Eurasian regions but also opens up a new path for the export of new energy products such as photovoltaic modules.
It is reported that the annual number of China-Europe Railway Express trips reached 34,000 in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 9.8%, hitting a record high. At the start of 2026, China-Europe Railway Express trains have been launched intensively in many regions: the first train from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area departed from Guangzhou Zengcheng West Station, and Wuhan opened a new direct route to Copenhagen. These moves have further strengthened the connectivity of the Eurasian continental trade corridor.
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