A Remarkable Route
Railways are becoming an increasingly popular way to travel and move goods across the globe. One particularly impressive train route spans 13,000 kilometers (approximately 8,000 miles) from the far east of Asia to the far-west of Europe.
The Journey in Detail
The train travels from Yiwu, an industrial hub in eastern China, to Madrid, Spain, in both directions. This route, known as the Yiwu-Madrid train, covers five countries: Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, and France.
The inaugural journey took place in 2014, taking 21 days to reach its destination. It has since entered the Guinness World Records as the longest train journey in the world, surpassing the famous Trans-Siberian Express.
Goods Transportation
The Yixinou freight train carries a variety of cargo, including essential goods such as socks, bags, and wallets. It not only transports goods from Yiwu to Madrid but also facilitates trade in the opposite direction, bringing products from Spain back to China.
Expanding Connections
This route is one of at least 12 Chinese cities connected to 9 European cities via similar train services. Notably, London has a comparable connection, extending 7,500 miles from Barking, East London, to Yiwu. This link has significantly boosted trading ties between the UK and China, mirroring the success of the Yiwu-Madrid route.
Darren Rodwell, the former leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, emphasized the importance of these connections: “We have a freight train terminus sitting there that’s not really being utilized – so already there’s goods. They reckon by the end of the decade we will be linked to the whole of Europe, the whole of Asia, and the whole of Africa.”
Conclusion
The Yiwu-Madrid train route not only showcases the capabilities of modern rail travel but also symbolizes the growing economic ties between Asia and Europe. With expanding networks, the future looks promising for global freight transport.
