On January 2, a train loaded with electronic products arrived in Lodz, a city in central Poland, after a 15 day journey from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. As the rail route started operating regularly in March, it has become the fastest railway freight route between China and Europe. The regular train, traveling once a week between the two cities separated by a distance of more than 10,000 kilometers, cuts the transport time from 40 to 15 days, according to Chengdu Logistics Office. Previously, products made in Chengdu had to be transported to Shenzhen or Shanghai before being shipped to European ports. The opening of the Chengdu-Lodz direct rail route is Chengdu’s latest effort to improve its infrastructure and establish itself as a major logistics hub in China. Zhang Chi, Director of the Logistics Coordination Center of the Chengdu Logistics Office, said that at present the cost of rail freight is more than two times that of shipping, which is the main reason behind its comparatively slower growth rate. But if the efficiency of rail freight is improved, and given it is faster than shipping, rail transportation will become increasingly popular. “If the train can be fully loaded in both directions, the cost will be reduced. Otherwise the cost will be very high,” said Zhang.