Two freight trains from North China's Shanxi province arrived in Duisburg, Germany, on Sept 4 for the first time, marking the launch of another route for the China-Europe direct freight rail service.

Duisburg in western Germany is a vital transport and logistics hub of Europe and has the world's largest inland port. About 25 freight trains travel every week between Chinese cities and Duisburg.

Starting off on Aug 13 from Linfen, Shanxi province, the two trains carrying wheel sets and castings produced by companies in Shanxi took around three weeks to arrive, half as long as what it would have if it had been shipped. The 400 wheel sets were directly delivered to local rail company.

Manfred Osenger, deputy mayor of Duisburg, said that the rail service from Shanxi further strengthens the role of Duisburg as a European logistics hub, enhances the city's influence in international trade and economic cooperation and strengthens ties with China.

Over 10,000 trips have been made since the China-Europe rail service came into service in 2011, transporting nearly 800,000 containers of goods. So far, the rail freight network links 48 Chinese cities with 43 cities in 14 European countries.

Shanxi has so far dispatched 21 cargo trains to Europe since the China Railway Express began operations in the province on Feb 15, 2017. The number is expected to double in 2018 as Shanxi further promotes the Belt and Road Initiative.