A new China–Europe freight train service has been launched connecting Wuhan with Baku via the Middle Corridor, marking the first direct rail link between the two cities.
The inaugural train is carrying electronics, household appliances and consumer goods for European markets. The route passes through the Khorgos border crossing into Kazakhstan, before crossing the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan.
At the Port of Baku, cargo will be transshipped by Azerbaijan Railways onto trains bound for Europe. The multimodal journey is expected to take 18 days, compared with up to 22 days via traditional routes.
The new service strengthens Wuhan’s position as a key logistics hub linking China with over 100 cities across more than 40 countries. It also underscores the growing importance of the Middle Corridor, which spans rail and sea routes across Central Asia, the Caspian region and Türkiye.
Cargo traffic along the corridor through Azerbaijan has surged by nearly 90% since 2022. In 2025, more than 380 block trains from China were handled, while total volumes reached 137,000 TEUs, reflecting continued growth in Eurasian trade.