A cargo train service between Chongqing and the German city of Duisberg has been launched officially after three test runs since March last year. The first train carrying laptops and LCD screens left Chongqing on the 13-day trip on the evening of 30 June.

The 11,179km rail route passes through Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland, before finally reaching Germany. It offers considerable time savings compared with the more traditional sea trade routes from Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Initially, the service will operate just once a month, but the frequency may be increased to daily in future as Chongqing’s exports to Europe increase, according to the city’s mayor Huang Qifan.

Although the rail tracks have been in place for more than 10 years, the route has only recently become possible following the signing of international agreements to resolve complicated customs checks and cargo transfers, according to Ma Zhongyuan, director of Chongqing customs.

Officials hope that the shorter transport time to Europe by railway will make made-in Chongqing notebook computers more competitive. Last month, a new cargo air route was established connecting Chongqing with Moscow and Luxembourg.

In the first five months of this year, Chongqing sold 2.43m laptop computers overseas.