The first direct freight train service from China to the UK arrived in London on January 18 of 2017. The journey took 7,456-miles and 18 days to complete. The new train is considered the modern-day Silk Road. This new route has made London the 15^th European city to have a railway route connection with China.

Nine countries are connected during this route: China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium, France, and United Kingdom.  The journey is longer than Russia’s famous Trans-Siberian railway, but shorter than the China-Madrid link. With cheaper services in comparison to air transportation and quicker delivery than ocean transportation, the new train railway successfully brings a new opportunity for growth.

China has become one of the world’s biggest exporters amounting to over $2.28 trillion in 2015. With President’s Xi vision to a brighter future for China and the world, he’s work is just beginning. There are already plans for another 20 European rail freight routes which will increase their export potential even more.

Written by Iris Arden (Ramon Inc.)

Sources:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/first-direct-london-china-train-completes-12000-km-run-in-20-days/article18299736.ecehttp://money.cnn.com/2017/01/18/news/economy/china-uk-freight-train-yiwu-london/index.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/first-direct-train-china-to-uk-arrives-east-london-yiwu-city-barking-channel-tunnel-a7533726.htmlhttp://www.bbc.com/news/business-38654176