Cargo train returns to China from Hamburg

HARBIN - A 41-container cargo train completed its maiden voyage from Hamburg, Germany, to Harbin in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, on Tuesday.

It took one month for the train, which was carrying German products including car parts and beer, to travel the length of the Ha'ou cargo line.

The 9,820 kilometer line passes through Germany, Poland and Russia before entering China via Manzhouli city, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The first train from Harbin to Hamburg left on June 13.

Ha'ou rail freight services have connected Harbin with Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain, France and Italy.

According to Heilongjiang Development and Reform Commission, 26 trains to and from Europe will be launched before the end of this year. Freight trains are expected to become more frequent next year.

Peng Jielin, deputy head of the commission, said that the regular cargo train service will help export more goods from the northeast and the Bohai Rim areas in China to Europe, and bring back more commodities from Europe.

A number of mainland cities -- including Chongqing and Chengdu in Southwest China; Wuhan, Zhengzhou and Changsha in central China; and Shenyang in Northeast China -- have rail freight services to Europe.