Chongqing Launches First Direct CR Express Service to Istanbul, Turkey

 

 

The China-Europe Railway Express (CR Express) train, carrying 110 twenty-foot equivalent units of air conditioners, gasoline engines, and other mechanical equipment, departed on January 26 from Chongqing Tuanjiecun Railway Station on its inaugural journey along the direct route to Istanbul. 

The CR Express departs China via the Horgos port, navigating through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the Black Sea, concluding its journey in Istanbul, Turkey. Covering around 10,000 kilometers and expected to last 25 days, the route includes one rail-rail intermodal transport change and three train-ferry transitions. 

 

 

On January 26, a China-Europe Railway Express (CR Express) train departed from Chongqing Tuanjiecun Railway Station.

 

 

In recent years, Chongqing Tuanjiecun Railway Station, the starting point of the CR Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), has substantially increased its operations. The number of departing trains reached record highs, surpassing 1,000 in 2023. 

Tuanjiecun Railway Station has established a green channel for seamless international train services, offering priority services for outbound trains such as advanced booking, expedited loading, and quicker dispatch. Inbound trains receive priority services for car delivery, appointment handling, transshipment, and container pickup. 

"In the next step, the station will continue to deepen cooperation with Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd., striving to launch regular CR Express services from Chongqing to Istanbul, Turkey," said Yan Lei, the stationmaster of Tuanjiecun Railway Station. "This will enhance the supporting role of international trains in regional industrial supply chains and promote the integrated development of regional economies."

 

 

The entire journey spans approximately 10,000 kilometers and is estimated to take 25 days.

 

 

The successful launch of this train marks a significant stride in accelerating the high-quality development of CR Express and participating in the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This initiative supports the high-quality joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative, providing an efficient pathway for local and regional enterprises to expand their global reach.