On April 20, a China-Central Asia freight train loaded with auto parts, machinery and other goods departed from Liangxiang Railway Station under the China Railway Beijing Group Co., Ltd. The train will exit China via Alashankou Port and head for Almaty, Kazakhstan. With a planned frequency of one train per week, this marks the launch of Beijing’s first regular China-Central Asia freight train, adding a stable and efficient logistics channel for economic and trade exchanges between Beijing and Central Asia.

The freight train service is jointly operated by the China Railway Beijing Group Co., Ltd. and Beijing Fangshan International Land Port Management Company, also known as Beijing International Land Port. According to Lü Bin, Head of the Fengtai West Business Outlet of the Beijing Railway Logistics Center, scheduled freight trains run on fixed timetables, routes, and train numbers, offering notable advantages such as higher transport efficiency and greater consistency. This enables enterprises to make production plans and fulfill overseas orders with greater ease, helping reduce logistics costs and enhance market competitiveness.

To ensure the smooth operation of the China-Central Asia freight train service, the Beijing Railway Logistics Center contacted enterprises to fully understand their shipping needs and develop tailored transport plans, enabling efficient coordination in cargo collection, station entry, and loading. It also optimized operating procedures including cargo loading and securing to enhance safety. In addition, the center implemented “five priority” measures for acceptance, empty wagon allocation, loading, formation, and dispatch to provide a fast-track channel for the freight train service.

“The scheduled operation of the China-Central Asia freight train represents a new breakthrough for Beijing International Land Port in serving the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and is also an important practice for the capital to build a new pattern of all-round opening-up,” said a relevant official from Beijing International Land Port. Leveraging the advantages of Alashankou Port, the scheduled China-Central Asia freight train will create a stable and efficient cross-border logistics route for foreign trade enterprises in the capital.