On September 26, 2024, the tailored China Railway Express (CRE) train from Xi'an to Belgrade embarked on its inaugural journey, marked by the sound of the locomotive's whistle. This train transported construction materials for steel structures produced by local enterprises in Shaanxi. This move was customized by the Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. (the company for short) according to customer needs, aiming to facilitate the global reach of Shaanxi manufacturing while supporting vital project developments in Serbia.

The cargo will be used in the Clean Serbia project, which represents the largest environmental project contracted by Chinese companies in Serbia. Upon completion, this project is expected to significantly improve the livability of Serbia and address public welfare issues. With the project's construction deadline approaching, traditional maritime transport could not ensure the scheduled delivery of these construction materials. In response, the company swiftly developed a tailored train service for Shaanxi manufacturing enterprises involved in the cooperation. This included urgent scheduling of dedicated freight space, specialized container loading solutions tailored to the goods packing, and close coordination with the logistics center of China Railway Xi'an Group Co., Ltd. to guarantee the safe and smooth dispatch of the cargo.

Serbia stands at the crossroads of Europe in the north-central Balkan Peninsula. It was the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to establish a strategic partnership with China and the first country in Europe to grant Chinese passport holders visa-free entry. Belgrade, the capital, sits at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers and is one of Europe's oldest cities, serving as a vital hub for East-West transport.

As a flagship project and iconic brand of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the CRE has become essential for maintaining stable and efficient international supply chains. Since the regular operation of the Central and Eastern Europe premium route of the CRE (Xi'an), this route has gained significant traction among customers due to its dependable transport timelines, greatly enhancing economic and trade interactions between China and Serbia. The successful launch of the CRE (Xi'an–Belgrade) tailored to Shaanxi manufacturing not only offers precise and diverse services for customers but also benefits more products made in Shaanxi from the BRI, promoting the vision of gathering Shaanxi products for global transportation. Moving forward, with guidance from China State Railway Group and robust support from the Xi'an Chan-Ba International Port Management Committee, China Railway Xi'an Group, and Xi'an Customs District P.R.China, the company will continue to enhance the operational quality and efficiency of the CRE (Xi'an), facilitate the development of Shaanxi's outward-oriented economy, and contribute to promoting high-quality BRI cooperation and creating a new height for high-level opening-up.

On July 26, 2024, the Olympic Games of Paris 2024 grandly kicked off against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. This remarkable occasion transcends mere athletic competition—it celebrates a rich tapestry of culture and art. As various events unfold intensely, many thrilling moments emerge.

Amid this dazzling spectacle, the China Media Group (CMG) has captured significant attention with its outdoor broadcasting studio. Set against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, the studio delivers real-time sports updates, creating an immersive environment by integrating live venues and virtual technology. This approach ensures high-quality Olympic coverage and a rich audio-visual experience for viewers.

Behind these thrilling events lies the contribution of the China Railway Express (Xi'an), which transported equipment used for CMG broadcasting of the Olympic Games. This marks the first time that CMG utilized the China Railway Express (CRE) to transport its broadcasting equipment for the Olympic Games. The equipment was shipped by the CRE train with full operation scheduleto the port of Duisburg in Germany and then delivered to Paris through a combined rail and road transport method. The whole running time took 17 days.

BOZ Logistics, a subsidiary of Xi'an International Inland Port Investment & Development Group (ITL Group), efficiently coordinated resources for this transportation, marking the inaugural journey of CMG's broadcasting equipment on the CRE. A tailored plan was developed, closely monitoring critical stages such as container loading, clearance, departure, and transshipment at foreign stations, ensuring the arrival of the equipment as scheduled.

The CRE train with full operation schedule utilized by CMG is operated by Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. This service adheres to strict station stop-time standards and implements measures of giving priority to formation, trailer transport, and departure. These efforts effectively shorten operating times across CRE train's processes, reducing idle stop time during cargo transfers at ports, and ensuring that the service of each section is completed according to the handover date/time and specified train number. Currently, the service has been adjusted to four outbound trips and three inbound trips each week, guaranteeing a running time of less than 12 days.

The successful delivery of CMG's Olympic broadcasting equipment via CRE train with full operation schedule marks the formation of the synergy between railway transport and other logistics modes such as sea and road transport. This development stands to benefit more Chinese industries looking to access international markets.

The exciting events of the Olympic Games in Paris are still underway. Let's celebrate this remarkable moment of determination and resilience! Go, Team China!

The full-time schedule trains operated by Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. have garnered significant attention from major media outlets such as China Central Television News Broadcast, Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese government's website, People's Daily Online, China News Service website, China National Radio website, China Daily website, Shaanxi Television Station News Broadcast, Shaanxi Daily, Xi'an Release, and Xi'an Daily. These trains have received unanimous praise!

The domestic and international full-time schedule trains of China Railway Express (Xi'an-Duisburg) are managed by Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. Currently, the number of departures has increased to "four outbound and three inbound" per week. Outbound trains run every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, while inbound trains operate every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This schedule not only maintains high transportation efficiency but also doubles the carrying capacity, with a total journey time of approximately 12 days. As of now, these trains stand as full-time schedule trains with the highest operation density in China. They have significantly enhanced the overall operational quality and market competitiveness of China Railway Express, while substantially reducing enterprise costs and efficiently completing transportation tasks.

Since the launch of these full-time schedule trains on October 26, 2022, a total of 188 trains have been dispatched, comprising 137 outbound and 51 inbound trains. The range of goods transported is diverse, including electronic products, mechanical parts, textiles, metal accessories, plastic products, vehicle parts, instruments and equipment, furniture, leather products, toys, and glass products. Notably, high value-added items such as precious metal accessories, spacecraft products, traffic signal equipment, ship structures, and mineral fuels constitute about 50% of the cargo.

Full-time schedule trains run in strict accordance with the standards of dwell time at stations, and priority is given to their formation, trailer transport, and departure. The move effectively shortens the operation time of all links of the China Railway Express service, reduces the invalid dwell time related to reloading at port stations, and ensures that the service of each section is completed according to the handover date/time and specified train number.

Since its inception, the full-time schedule train service has been highly favored by import and export enterprises both domestically and internationally. Clients with high-value products, in particular, prioritize using this service. Currently, clients in sectors such as high-end precision machinery, premium auto parts, luxury cosmetics, and fast-moving consumer goods regularly utilize the full-time schedule trains. For instance, internationally renowned cosmetics popular among female consumers are imported to Xi'an, China via this train service and subsequently distributed nationwide.

Moving forward, the Xi'an International Inland Port Investment & Development Group (ITL Group) will continue to enhance the quality development of the China Railway Express (Xi'an). It will further deepen economic and trade exchanges and cooperation with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. ITL Group will play an active role in accelerating the development of a reform and opening-up hub in Shaanxi's hinterland, supporting the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and fostering a new development pattern where domestic and international markets mutually reinforce each other.

At 03:55 a.m. on May 25 (Beijing time), with the whistle of the X8155 train, the broadcasting equipment used by China Media Group (CMG) for the Paris Olympic Games officially departed from Xi'an, the starting point of the Silk Road.

Transport scene

The equipment transported this time is mainly the broadcasting and reporting equipment used by CMG for the Paris Olympic Games, involving advanced technological equipment and components such as media servers, advertising machines, screens, lighting controllers, and studio desks. This marked the first time CMG used the CRE for transporting Olympic broadcasting equipment, and also the first time to transport the equipment by a fixed timetable CRE train to Duisburg Port in Germany, and then to designated venues for Paris Olympic Games in France through rail-road combined transport, with a total transit time of about 16 days.

BOZ Logistics, a subsidiary of ITL Group, is responsible for the transportation. To ensure the smooth and efficient completion of this task, with the strong support of the Administrative Committee of Xi'an Chanba International Port, China Railway Xi'an Group Co., Ltd., and Xi'an Customs District P.R.China, BOZ Logistics actively communicated and cooperated with Xi'an Station Customs, China Railway Container Transport Corp. Ltd. (CRCT) Xi'an Branch, China Railway International Multimodal Transport Co., Ltd. (CRIMT) Xi'an Branch, and CRIntermodal Xi'an Railway Container Terminal, tailored logistics transportation plans, optimized cargo loading plans, and rail-road combined transport plans, and meticulously overseeing crucial parts like container arrival, entry, loading, inspection, and release, ensuring timely delivery of the broadcasting equipment to the Paris Olympic Games by taking a fixed timetable CRE train.

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. This "Silk Road Express" from Xi'an continuously strengthens the 60-year friendship and mutual economic and trade benefits between the two nations.

It is reported that the fixed timetable CRE train carrying the broadcasting equipment for the Paris Olympic Games was operated by Xi'an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd. In strict accordance with the standard of station dwell time, this train has adopted the principle of "giving priority to marshaling, coupling and departure", which effectively shortens the operation time of all sections of CRE trains, reduces the invalid dwell time when reloading at port stations, and ensures that each segment is completed on schedule, achieving two outbound and one inbound trip per week with a total transit time of under 12 days. Meanwhile, BOZ Logistics of ITL Group has introduced new LCL transport services based on a fixed timetable train, significantly enhancing the overall quality and market competitiveness of the CRE, and benefiting more export enterprises.

This successful shipment of CMG Paris Olympic Games Broadcasting Equipment via a fixed timetable CRE train also signifies the gradual integration of rail, sea, and road transport, complementing each mode's strengths and helping more Chinese enterprises reach international markets. ITL Group will continue to advance, striving to enhance the welfare of people in both countries and the world.

On April 25, Xi’an International Inland Port Investment & Development Group (ITL Group) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with South Korea’s LX Pantos. The two parties held discussions focused on further deepening cooperation, enhancing the high-quality development of the China Railway Express (Xi’an), and establishing a Central and Eastern European logistics hub in Hungary.

The two parties will jointly establish a logistics hub station for the China Railway Express (Xi’an) servicing Central and Eastern Europe, located in Hungary. This hub will include container yards, rail facilities, logistics storage, and various other services. Simultaneously, efforts will be made to enhance various types of transportation services within the European Union, including inland railways and trucking.

Hungary, situated in the central region of Europe, is a key member of the Belt and Road Initiative. The establishment of this logistics hub will propel the outbound expansion of China’s automotive industry into the heart of Europe, catering to the diverse needs of customers. It will also create new growth opportunities for the China Railway Express (Xi’an) service, while further promoting commercial and trade exchanges as well as positive interactions between Shaanxi and the Central European region.

Qu Jinwei, Party Secretary and Chairman of ITL Group; Zhai Ruopeng, Deputy General Manager of ITL Group; and Lee Ha-hyeong, Head of International Railway Affairs at LX Pantos, attended the event and served as witnesses to the agreement signing. The cooperation agreement was signed by Shao Boer, General Manager of Xi’an International Inland Port Multimodal Transportation Co., Ltd., and Hyeong Gapsu, Head of Operations in China at LX Pantos, representing their respective entities.

LX PANTOS is a global multinational conglomerate established in 1977, with its headquarters located in Seoul, South Korea. LX PANTOS primarily engages in combined freight forwarding, warehousing, transportation, GSP, customs clearance, and insurance agency services. It operates over 70 branch companies worldwide, spanning Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa. Since its inception, LX PANTOS has evolved into a comprehensive logistics enterprise, offering a full range of services across all logistics sectors, including customs clearance and warehousing. Currently, LX PANTOS has established over 20 wholly-owned subsidiaries or offices in various locations across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Dalian, Shenyang, Qingdao, Nanjing, Shenzhen, and Taipei.

In recent years, ITL Group has been actively developing the Budapest market in Hungary. It has developed several route products, including the "China Railway Express (Chang’an) Central and Eastern Europe Route", "China Railway Express (Xi’an–Budapest) ‘Shacman’ First Train", "Budapest–Xi’an Return Public Train", "China Railway Express BYD Project (Xi’an–Budapest, Hungary)", and "China Railway Express (Xi’an) Hanoi, Vietnam–Xi’an, China– Budapest, Hungary" Cross-border Road-rail Multimodal Transport Train".

Looking ahead, ITL Group will continue to push for a "dual improvement" in the operational quality and efficiency of the China Railway Express (Xi’an). It plans to efficiently operate full-schedule special trains and constantly explore to diversify routes. By incorporating multifaceted approaches such as table trolleys, rail-road combined transport, and sea-rail combined transport, it aims to build a comprehensive modern logistics system. Always adhering to a customer-centric approach, ITL Group strives to achieve high-quality development of the China Railway Express (Xi’an) Collaboration Center, to contribute ITL strength to Xi’an’s comprehensive opening-up and the creation of a reform and opening-up frontier in the inland regions.