A train carrying 13 Hyundai buses pulled out of the Tianjin Port Logistics Development Co, on May 25, bound for the border city of Erenhot, then for Mongolia, marked the first time for the Guangzhou Dehang Transportation Service Co to send its goods to Mongolia by rail, with 300 automobiles expected to be shipped later this year from Tianjin.

Cranes in operation at Tianjin Port [Photo/Yang Yihua]

The port is the eastern end of the Silk Road economic belt and an important part of the Maritime Silk Road as well, and the only place to connect to the cities of Manzhouli, Erenhot and Alataw Pass (Khorgos). After more than 20 years of development, it has become the biggest cross-border freight train handler for Mongolia and, back in 2011, its Erenhot train was designated a model water - rail transportation project by China’s transport and railway ministries. Just in the first four month of this year, Tianjin port has seen 118 of these trains bound for Erenhot, carrying 11,000 standard containers.

Liu Jun, of the Tianjin Port Logistics Development Co, says that they have taken the initiative in getting involved with the Belt and Road strategy and increased efforts to develop sea - rail transportation, especially by developing cooperation with railway departments and customers and introducing a double-decker carriage for autos. This allows for greater auto deliveries without using a container and has already delivered 130 vehicles across the border.