35 times train services between China and Europe in 10 years

Ten years ago, there were no direct train services linking Chinese and European cities. Now, there are 34 cities in Europe and 35 in China linked by such routes.

That's according to new research by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, cited by Bloomberg News.

A train loaded with products made in China heading towards Hamburg departs from Xinzhu station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, March 7, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua/Li Yibo]

The report credits Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative with having been the driving force behind the phenomenal growth of the rail freight connections over the last decade.

It's not just rail connections between China and Europe that are growing, however.

We reported earlier that a total of nine new flights between China and Europe are expected to be launched in the first half of 2018.

That's according to specialist publication Travel Weekly, which also reported that more routes could follow later in the year.

Several of the new flights will serve the United Kingdom at one end, including new connections between London and Wuhan, Xi'an and Changsha, and Edinburgh to Beijing via Dublin.

There'll also be a resumed link between London and Chengdu, served by Air China.