The cross-Caspian international freight train of Shandong Port Group (SPG), carrying goods such as protective clothing, car seats, flange accessories, and excavators, recently departed from Jinan, Shandong province, for key cities in Central Asia such as Almaty and Aktau in Kazakhstan.

The cross-Caspian international freight train of SPG departs from Jinan city, Shandong province. [Photo/WeChat account: Shandong-Port]

This marks the testing launch of the first cross-Caspian international freight train by Shandong Port Land-sea International Logistics Group, signaling a significant step forward in the construction of the SPG cross-Caspian international freight train corridor project and further expanding the international logistics artery in the Eurasian direction.

In recent years, leveraging its unique geographical advantages and comprehensive port resources, SPG has actively participated in the construction of international freight train routes, conducting research visits to Eurasian countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan to promote the establishment of an international logistics corridor.

This operation adopts a multimodal "railway-sea-railway" transport model, with goods transported via the SPG cross-Caspian international freight train departing from Khorgos port, arriving in cities like Almaty and Aktau in Kazakhstan, then crossing the Caspian Sea by sea to reach Baku, Azerbaijan, and finally transported to their final destination by railway. This model is 50 percent faster than traditional sea transport, helping Shandong create a new trade route connecting Central Asia and Europe.