Shorter rail and highway route to Eurasia opens

A freight train loaded with Chinese wind power equipment left Lanzhou, Gansu province, for Uzbekistan on Jan 1. [Photo by Bai Yiwei/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A freight train carrying more than 260 metric tons of locally made wind power equipment left Lanzhou, Gansu province, for Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, earlier this week.

After the train, dubbed the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan train, arrived in Kashgar, the wind power equipment — valued at more than 3.5 million yuan ($515,000) — was transferred to trucks for highway transport and left the country from the Irkeshtam port in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The final destination is Zarafchan, Uzbekistan.

The journey has been shortened by nearly 500 kilometers and 3-5 days can be saved by a new route. The traditional outbound route goes through Khorgos port. The shorter one will boost foreign trade and ensure the stability of industrial chains in the northwestern Chinese province, authorities said.

The new transportation route will help advance economic and trade cooperation between Gansu province and Eurasian nations and regions, they said.

It can effectively integrate the advantages of rail and highway transport and help build a new international logistics channel to Eurasia for Lanzhou New Area, they said.