A container freight train transporting goods including tyres, garlic and washing powder departs Yanzhou International Land Port in Jining city, Shandong province for Qingdao Port on July 10. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A container freight train transporting goods including tyres, garlic and washing powder departed Yanzhou International Land Port in Jining city, Shandong province for Qingdao Port on July 10.

The goods were unloaded at Qingdao Port before they were transported to Southeast Asia by sea. This was the first sea-rail combined train service linking Yanzhou International Land Port and Qingdao Port, which is operated by Shandong Port Group (SPG).

The new route was made possible due to the joints efforts of SPG and the China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co Ltd.

To ensure the successful launch of the freight train, Shandong Port Logistics Group and Qingdao Port have leveraged the advantages presented by inward port integration to carry out market research. Both parties also worked together to improve the inner-provincial sea-rail logistics corridor and increase throughput.

The opening of the freight train route is part of SPG's efforts to promote regional logistics connectivity and improve regional economic development. The new route is expected to improve the flow of goods between Jining and Qingdao Port, and offer more convenient and efficient transport solutions for export enterprises in southwest Shandong.

SPG said it will deepen cooperation with Jining, enhance the operational efficiency of trains, and offer comprehensive support for the development of inland businesses to inject impetus into the economic development of Jining.