A block train departs Datong city in North China's Shanxi province for Minsk, Belarus, on March 30. [Photo/people.com.cn]

Datong city in northern Shanxi province launched its first block train – a freight train that runs as a single unit, carrying the same commodity, running from the loading point to the unloading point without intermediate stops -- to the city of Minsk in Belarus, on March 30. 

Loaded with over 1,000 tons of structural steel worth more than 6.3 million yuan ($937,897), the block train carrying 41 containers is currently traveling 8,600 kilometers to Minsk, via Russia. The journey will take around 15 days, cutting half the delivery time by sea and 70 percent of the cost compared with that by air. 

All the transported goods will be used in the construction of China's key overseas investment project and largest overseas industrial park – China-Belarus Industrial Park in Minsk. 

To facilitate the operation of the cargo train, Datong customs has arranged a special team to offer export companies 24-hour policy guidance, consultation and reservation services and opened a so-called green channel for reducing customs clearance time. 

Officials said the launch of the Datong-Minsk block train was of great importance to Datong in opening up its rail transport and trade channels to Europe and to its further overall opening up.

A second block train is scheduled to depart on April 15.