First direct freight train from China arrives in Hungary

Budapest, 2017. április 21. A Kínából Budapestre érkezett elsõ áruszállító vonat a Mahart Container Centerében 2017. április 21-én. MTI Fotó: Koszticsák Szilárd

Budapest, April 21 (MTI) – The first direct freight train between China and Hungary arrived in Budapest on Friday, carrying more than 1 million US dollars worth of clothing, electronics, toys and steel.

The 650-metres long train, carrying 41 shipping containers, travelled more than 10,000 kilometres over 17 days, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Slovakia before arriving at Mahart Container Center terminal in the Port of Budapest.

Photo: MTI

The head of Mahart Container Center and Ekol Hungary, which organised the delivery, marked the arrival of the train together with China’s ambassador to Hungary Jielong Duan and deputy state secretary for customs and international affairs Tamás Molnár.

Preparations are underway to upgrade the rail line between Budapest and Belgrade. The stretch is to become part of a transport corridor for Chinese goods bound for Europe.