BEIJING: In an initiative to build a new silk road linking Asia and Europe though Central Asia, China launched a cargo train service connecting its world’s largest commodity market in Yiwu with the Spanish capital Madrid, 13,000-km away.
According to media source, the train with 82 containers was the first to travel the entire course of the cargo line on Tuesday, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Consisting of 82 wagons, the new Yixinou train connects Yiwu, an important wholesale base near Shanghai, and Madrid.
Yixinou will pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France on its way to Spain on a journey that will take 21 days.
The 13,000-km line passes six countries apart from China and Spain, including Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France.
Due to incompatible track gauges, Yixinou has to stop at three points to be shifted onto different wagons.
Great Rail of China!