The X8155 China-Europe freight train – loaded with 50 containers of solar power inverters, electric compressors, vacuum cleaners and other household appliances and accessories – left Xi'an International Port Station in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Oct 26.

Its departure marked the opening of the first China-Europe freight train (Xi'an) with a full timetable, from the beginning to the end of the run.

Electric lights are ablaze in the early morning, as the X8155 China-Europe freight train departs the city of Xi'an, on the way to Germany. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

The freight train left the country via Alashankou Port in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and will arrive in the Rhine River port city of Duisburg in Germany on Nov 5.

In its travels from China to Europe, the freight train has to go through railways of different gauges in different countries.

Previously, when a freight train arrived at various border ports, it was replaced with a train that was operated by the railway of each country. Because there were no connection requirements and restrictions on the departure time for the next leg of the journey, there was a lot of involuntary waiting time and it was not possible to achieve fast and smooth handover.

Now, the freight train with a full timetable effectively controls the operation time of each leg of the trip and can eliminate the idle time when handling trains at the port stations – thereby improving the transportation timeliness, operation quality and market competitiveness.

Containers are slotted into place at Xi'an International Port Station. [Photo/Xi'an news network]