China-Europe Railway Express Strengthens Eurasian Supply Chain Connectivity

China, August 2026 – The China-Europe Railway Express has developed into a major overland freight corridor linking China with European and Asian markets. Since the unified service brand was established in 2016, annual train movements have increased from 1,702 to more than 20,000 in 2025, while the network has expanded across much of Eurasia.

The network now connects 129 Chinese cities with 236 cities in 26 European countries, compared with just 16 Chinese and 20 European cities when the unified service was introduced. By June 10, 2026, the service had already exceeded 10,000 train trips and transported more than one million TEUs during the year, setting records for the same period.

The expansion is also changing the role of rail within international supply chains. The service carries a broad range of cargo, including vehicles, machinery, electronics and other manufactured goods, providing shippers with an overland option between Asian production centres and European markets. Regular scheduled services and improvements in customs and transport organisation have further supported operational efficiency.

For railway and logistics stakeholders, the growth demonstrates the importance of cross-border interoperability, terminal capacity and coordinated customs processes in developing international rail freight. The expanding network also provides greater route diversification for supply chains, particularly when disruptions or congestion affect conventional maritime corridors.

The China-Europe Railway Express has therefore evolved beyond a single freight service into a wider Eurasian logistics network. Its continued expansion highlights how international rail can support trade connectivity and supply-chain resilience when infrastructure, border procedures and service reliability develop alongside increasing freight volumes.

Source: CGTN