Shanghai launches its first China-Europe freight train. [Photo/Official WeChat account of the administrative committee of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone]

East China's Shanghai launched its first freight train to Europe on Sept 28, providing a new logistics option to foreign trade companies that have been hindered by surging shipping costs due to an overall reduction in shipping capacity worldwide.

According to Shanghai Customs, the train will leave China via the Alataw Pass in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and arrive in Hamburg, Germany after about 13 days of traveling. The first freight train was fully loaded with 50 containers of goods including apparel, glass vessels, auto parts, and precision instruments.

The China-Europe freight train will make one trip per week at first, and increase to two or three trips per week starting from the next year to meet the increasing demands of foreign trade companies, said Wang Jinqiu, director of Shanghai Oriental Silk Road Multimodal Transport Co, which is the operator of the freight train service.

The train, when it returns, will perhaps carry German products such as stereos and MRI equipment that will be exhibited at this year's China International Import Expo in November.

A special service window has been set up in the train station to facilitate the customs clearance of shipments, according to customs official Chai Yan.

A special service window has been set up to facilitate the customs clearance of shipments. [Photo/Official WeChat account of the administrative committee of the China (Shanghai) Pilot FTZ]