A new China-Europe freight train route is now available in Central China's Henan province. Carrying tyres, polyester staple fiber thread, stainless steel tubes and multi-layer white cardboard, a China Railway Express freight train left Zhengzhou city, provincial capital of Henan, early in the morning of June 30. Several days later, it will arrive at its destination St. Petersburg in Russia via the Alashankou Port in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

"It marks the official launch of the Zhengzhou-St. Petersburg China Railway Express freight train service." According to Kang Yan, deputy general manager of Zhengzhou International Hub (ZIH) Development and Construction Co., Ltd., the number of ZIH's direct international train services has increased to 14.

The new destination will bring more impetus to Henan's opening-up. St. Petersburg is the railway hub in Northwest Russia, with 12 main railway lines in operation leading radially to Helsinki in Finland, Warsaw in Poland, Moscow in Russia and other major cities in Europe. With a monthly operation of 2 to 3 trips, the new freight train service is bound to drive the trade and economic growth along the route.