It seemed an impossible task, but after travelling almost 7,500 kilometres over the course of two weeks the first freight train ever to travel from China to London arrived at its destination this week.
The train, which left Yiwu in China’s east on 3 January, traversed nine countries and two continents during its journey – passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before completing the final leg in the Channel Tunnel between France and the UK.
Technically speaking, the train underwent a few alterations along the way due to the different railway specifications in different countries, which meant a carriage or two had to be swapped over at various stages.
Nevertheless, it comes as a major milestone in President Xi Jinping’s plan to revive Silk Road trade routes with the Nevertheless, it comes as a major milestone in President Xi Jinping’s plan to revive Silk Road trade routes with the West.
