The X8489 China-Europe freight train leaves Xi'an on March 23. [Photo/Xi'an Daily]

Laden with automobiles for export, the X8489 China-Europe freight train departed Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province on March 23, headed for Selyatino in Russia.

With the rapid development of China's auto industry, more and more manufacturers choose to export their products via the China-Europe freight train.

In order to meet their shipment needs, service operator China Railway Xi'an Group Co has strengthened communications with local governments and foreign trade enterprises, established a coordination mechanism and opened up a new channel to help domestic automobiles go global.

In the current year to March 22, the China-Europe freight train (Xi'an) has made a total of 1,028 trips, transporting 869,000 metric tons of cargo, an increase of 34 percent on the previous corresponding period.

The freight train's core performance indicators such as operating trips, freight volumes and heavy container rate have ranked first in the country.