At 3:00 p.m. on April 15, the first Chongqing-Chengdu point-to-point train departed from the Chongqing Xinglongchang Marshalling Station and arrived at Dawanzhen Station in Chengdu nine hours later. This train carried a total of 28 containers involving daily chemicals, glucose, and auto parts. The launch of this train will help further the trade exchanges between Sichuan and Chongqing, prompt the integration of the two regions into the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and facilitate the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.

At 3:00 p.m. on April 15, the first Chongqing-Chengdu point-to-point train departs from the Chongqing Xinglongchang Marshalling Station. (Photo by Tang Yi)

In recent years, Sichuan and Chongqing have actively responded to the central government’s decisions and deployment, and various departments and units have been seeking cooperation. Under the circumstances, Xinglongchang Station, together with local government departments, Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park, CRIntermodal Tuanjiecun Central Station, and China Railway Express, set up a joint party branch for communication and consultation between road departments and local authorities. The Chongqing-Chengdu point-to-point train was launched based on the needs of enterprises in Chengdu, Chongqing, and surrounding areas.

“Rail freight is in the ascendant regarding the all-weather operation, safety, and stability. By virtue of policy support from the railway department, the range of goods carried by train has been extended from the previous single category to 21 categories, including grain, food, and beverage, which can be further expanded according to the demand.” Zhou Yuxin, director of Xinglongchang Station, introduced that the frequent economic and trade exchanges between Chengdu and Chongqing give rise to the enterprises’ high demand for logistics. The opening of this train has shown them promising prospects. Currently, all parties are stepping up efforts to establish a linkage mechanism to reduce fare, raise efficiency, and optimize services of rail freight. Apart from that, all relevant departments will exert their utmost efforts to optimize such key links as train selection, equipment, and technical inspection, thus constantly improving transport efficiency.

Chongqing’s railway transportation is entering a stage of rapid development. The relevant person in charge of the Port and Logistics Office of the Chongqing Municipal Government said that in the first quarter of this year, such international trains as the China Railway Express (YUXINOU) and the rail-sea multimodal transport train of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor operated stably. They have exerted a tremendous boost to Chongqing’s opening-up. The Chongqing-Chengdu point-to-point train has broad market prospects, and it is expected to be linked with other international trains in Chongqing to enrich Chongqing’s railway logistics network further.