1st Africa-bound freight train departs from Liangjiang

The first Africa-bound freight train leaves Guoyuan port on April 27. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

A freight train headed for Africa, with 76 containers that are loaded with motorcycle parts and other goods, departed from Guoyuan port in Liangjiang New Area, Southwest China's Chongqing municipality on April 27.

This is the first train of its kind to depart from the port, and it will effectively boost exchanges and trade between the Central and West China and Africa.

The train's cargo will be transferred for shipping in Qinzhou Port. It will take between 35 to 40 days before the goods reach Nacala Port in North Mozambique and Apapa Port in Nigeria.

Wang Yupei, president of the New Land-Sea Corridor Operation Co, said that this multimodal transport approach saves about 10 days of travel time when compared with the traditional shipping model. This new approach will reduce logistics costs for all enterprises involved.

Guoyuan port is an important pivot in the New Western Land-Sea Corridor. Since the beginning of this year, the New Western Land-Sea Corridor (Guoyuan port) freight train system has registered 160 trips, a surge of more than 90 percent year on year. Within this same period, goods worth over 1 billion yuan ($145.6 million) have been carried overseas via this channel, an increase of 70 percent.