Train Journey Initiated on Trans-Caspian Route, Connecting China and Europe for the First Time
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the "Middle Corridor," is a strategic multimodal transport corridor that connects China and Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus, and beyond. This route offers a key alternative to traditional routes that often transit Russia or China-dominated infrastructure.
### Key Features of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route:
The TITR spans over 4,250 km of rail and approximately 500 km of seaway, linking China via Kazakhstan, crossing the Caspian Sea, and continuing through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, eventually reaching Europe. The corridor incorporates the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, which since 2017 has enabled transit from China to Turkey in 12 days, and further to Prague in about 18 days.
The TITR enables direct land-rail-sea combined transport, as demonstrated by the recent launch of the Trans-Caspian China-Europe train. This service improves Beijing's international transport layout by shortening transit time while increasing reliability and anti-risk capacity.
### Impact on Cargo Movement Between China and Europe:
The TITR shortens transportation time compared to traditional maritime routes, enhancing efficiency for manufacturers and exporters, particularly in high-value sectors such as intelligent manufacturing, green energy, and new materials. The route provides a more controllable and reliable supply chain, reducing vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions prevalent in other routes.
The corridor expands market reach by facilitating access not only to Europe but also to regions around the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and Central and Eastern Europe. Traffic on this route is growing rapidly: in 2024, cargo volume reached 4.5 million tonnes with container volumes increasing by 170%, indicating growing commercial adoption and strategic importance.
TITR also serves as a significant geopolitical alternative to routes passing through Russia or controlled by China, thereby diversifying Eurasian cargo routes and improving global supply chain resilience.
### Recent Cargo Movement:
A recent Trans-Caspian train trip originated from Beijing's Fangshan district on June 30, carrying 104 standard containers filled with auto parts and mechanical equipment. The total value of the cargo was over US$2 million. The journey took 15 days to complete. After Alat, the cargo will continue by rail to Baku. Upon reaching Baku, part of the cargo will be forwarded to Georgia, Turkey, Serbia, and other countries.
From Aktau, the cargo will be transported by ferry to the port of Alat. The final destination of the cargo is the port of Aktau in Caspian. The train will pass through the Khorgos checkpoint on the border with Kazakhstan.
In summary, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is a critical infrastructure corridor that enhances cargo movement between China and Europe by offering a faster, more reliable, and geopolitically diversified transit option, significantly reshaping Eurasian trade and logistics networks.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) facilitates direct land-rail-sea combined transport, as demonstrated by the recent Trans-Caspian China-Europe train, which shortened Beijing's transit time while increasing reliability and anti-risk capacity, and despite traversing diverse industries like finance, transportation, and energy, the route played a significant role in linking these sectors by fostering efficient cargo transport, particularly in high-value sectors like intelligent manufacturing and green energy.
