Fastest Direct Freight Train from China Arrives in Czechia: Xi’an–Česká Třebová in 14 Days

Eight thousand kilometres across half the world in just fourteen days. The first regular freight train from Xi’an, China, has arrived at the METRANS terminal in Česká Třebová, becoming the fastest direct rail connection between China and the Czech Republic.

Logistics company METRANS, part of the HHLA Group and a key intermodal operator in Central Europe, has confirmed a significant strengthening of the Czech Republic’s position on the New Silk Road. On the night of December 2, 2025, the first train dispatched from Xi’an arrived successfully at the Česká Třebová terminal, operating on a fixed timetable.

The train covered a distance of 8,000 kilometres from the more than ten-million-inhabitant city in central China to the 15,000-inhabitant town of Česká Třebová in two weeks. This is currently the fastest rail connection between China and Czechia, with standard transit times typically around 18 days. The service will operate once a week.

The launch of a regular service with a fixed schedule is considered strategically significant, providing exporters and importers with predictability and reliability previously offered mainly by combined maritime and road transport. Delivery of goods to customers began in the early hours of December 3, the company reported on its LinkedIn profile.

Smooth Transshipment in Kazakhstan

METRANS pointed out the efficiency of the entire process. The train passed smoothly through Kazakhstan, with the critical phase being the priority transshipment at the break-of-gauge at the Altynkol border crossing. Successfully handling this bottleneck without delays is essential for maintaining short transit times along the entire route, the company stated.

The Xi’an–Česká Třebová line is intended as the first of the weekly services. With this step, METRANS confirms that its network is becoming the backbone of fast continental rail transport, offering an effective alternative to maritime shipping. "With this arrival, we are proud of another expansion of the METRANS network and offer one of the fastest rail connections between China and Europe, enabling efficient access to further destinations within our network," the company said.

Česká Třebová is thus becoming an important entry point into the EU for goods from Asia, from where cargo is distributed across the entire METRANS network. The service is operated in cooperation with partners Beijing Trans Eurasia and TE Germany.