On December 24, a full container in Madrid-Yiwu Train set out from Yiwu west station to Madrid, Spain. So far, 500 trains of Madrid-Yiwu Train have been launched this year.
Still remember, five years ago, “Madrid-Yiwu Train” traveled 21 days from Yiwu to Madrid, making bright neon through China and the west. Up to now, this railway line with a total operating mileage of more than 13,000 kilometres is still the longest of all China Railway Express.
Some people have concerned that its cost is higher than the sea freight and its speed is slower than the air freight. As a matter of fact, from the first train in 2014 and the 35th train in 2015, up to the 500th train this year now; from one single route to 11 routes now, Madrid-Yiwu Train has set up 4 branches and 5 logistics distribution centers along the routes. It has joined the 37 countries and regions of the Eurasian continent, and has further enriched the ways of logistics distribution, and has been praised by President Xi Jinping.
Some people have concerned how it can solve the problem of “heavy box out and empty box back” as well as export sources in high guarantee. In fact, half a year after its opening, a “Red Wine Train” full of Spanish red wine and olive oil came back. Soon after, a “manufacture train” full of European auto parts came back. Today, the heavy box rate of the “Madrid-Yiwu Train” has reached 100%.
Just like water that never fights for the first but for its last. 500 trains a year, is this too much? In the whole nation, this number may not be the largest. China Railway Express in Chongqing, Xi’an and other places has launched over 1000 trains. However, as an industry expert said, it is not difficult to launch a train. What is difficult is to develop its own characteristics and continuous innovation. And this is the best of “Madrid-Yiwu Train”.
The characteristics of “Madrid-Yiwu Train” lie in the private economy, making good use of the market and having a keen sense of business opportunities. Therefore, “Madrid-Yiwu Train” has the eWPT-Cainiao Train, from the traditional small commodity market to cross-border e-commerce, in which online and offline markets have been integrated. Therefore, the Geely Train has been launched, which realized the point-to-point land transportation between factories at home and abroad, saving 2/3 of the time compared with the sea freight and improving the overseas competitiveness of Geely Automobile. Therefore, the “Madrid-Yiwu Train +” mode started its show. Under flexible innovation, all kinds of customized trains emerge in endlessly.
The characteristics of “Madrid-Yiwu Train” lie in the economy of Zhejiang, with abundant warehouses and vast hinterland. According to statistics, more than 70% of the supply of “Madrid-Yiwu Train” comes from Zhejiang Province, which is generally higher than the proportion of regional supply of China Railway Express. In its 2-hour logistics economic circle, it gathers Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Jinhua and other cities, and has a strong industrial base and foreign trade support.
The transformation of “Madrid-Yiwu Train” is more resonant with China’s opening-up and shines the opportunity of the times. Under the initiative of “One Belt, One Road“, “Madrid-Yiwu Train” came into being, expanding continuously in the trend of expanding imports, integrating development in the process of regional integration of Yangtze River Delta, and stimulating vitality in supporting the development of private economy. In the past five years, more than 60 cities across the country have opened the China Railway Express, which is no longer just a point-to-point connection, but also a trade link radiating regional economy.
“Madrid-Yiwu Train” will never stop its pace, of course. Through coordinated development, we are making the overall brand of China Railway Express in the Yangtze River Delta bigger and stronger. By extending the industrial chain and expanding the source of goods, we are realizing the overall integration of the supply chain. Through linkage with the respective trade test zones, comprehensive test zones and other institutional innovation Highlands in the Yangtze River Delta, we are innovating the operation mode and standard system. We are looking forward to a new world developing by the “Madrid-Yiwu Train”.
