A second trial cargo train service connecting Chongqing and Europe via Xinjiang recently departed the Chinese municipality. The train was carrying automobile parts, laptops and monitors valued at more than US$30m and weighing 550 tonnes, Xinhua reported.

The second service was put on to test customs clearance efficiency in Russia and Kazakhstan and to monitor the adaptability of IT products during cold weather. The non-stop journey to Moscow covering 8,120km is estimated to take 11 days.

A third trial run all the way to the German port city of Duisburg will be undertaken later this month.