CHONGQING, China — Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality officially inaugurated a new fixed-schedule China-Europe freight train service on Sunday, connecting the industrial port city directly to Budapest, Hungary. This China Railway Express route, departing from Tuanjiecun Station, establishes a faster, more predictable supply chain channel for high-value Chinese exports heading to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), underscoring the growing efficiency and reach of the trans-Eurasian rail network.
The debut service carried a diverse cargo manifest, primarily consisting of automotive and motorcycle components, electronic devices, and assorted consumer goods. The journey is projected to take approximately 11 days, substantially improving on conventional transport timelines. Budapest’s strategic position as a major logistics gateway for the CEE region makes this direct, scheduled connection highly significant for Eurasian trade.
Enhanced Reliability Drives Trade Efficiency
The new path through Eurasia represents Chongqing’s second dedicated fixed-schedule train service, complementing its established route to Duisburg, Germany. Fixed-schedule services, which adhere to predetermined timetables and fixed routes, are markedly more reliable than traditional, non-scheduled freight options.
The new timetable is designed to boost logistics predictability. According to officials from China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd., the Chongqing-Budapest route slashes transit time by approximately 30% compared to previous non-scheduled rail options.
Yang Lianchen of the Chongqing railway logistics center emphasized the commercial benefits of this enhanced reliability. “The fixed-schedule service offers greater predictability for production planning, logistics, and capital turnover, and provides a more efficient cross-border logistics option for Chongqing’s pivotal electronics, automotive, motorcycle, and equipment manufacturing sectors,” Lianchen explained.
The rail journey traverses multiple nations, exiting China via the Alataw Pass in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and continuing through Kazakhstan, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia before reaching Hungary.
Belt and Road: Expanding the Rail Footprint
This new connection reinforces the expansive logistics architecture of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), under which the China Railway Express operates as a flagship project. The dedicated freight rail service has grown into a comprehensive logistics artery spanning Eurasia, significantly accelerating trade across the continent.
Recent data released by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., highlights the immense scale of the initiative. The China-Europe freight trains have cumulatively completed over 120,000 trips, facilitating the movement of goods valued in excess of $490 billion USD.
The widespread network currently links ports across China to 232 cities in 26 European countries, alongside more than 100 cities in 11 Asian nations.
The launch of the Chongqing-Budapest line signifies a strategic pivot toward increasing logistics reliability and speed, offering critical advantages to manufacturers dependent on just-in-time inventory management. As global supply chains continue to seek diversification and resilience, high-frequency, scheduled rail links like this new route are becoming essential infrastructure in the future of Sino-European commerce. The focus on fixed schedules and reduced transit times is expected to attract more business away from slower sea routes and more costly air freight, promising continued growth for the trans-Eurasian rail corridor.