As global supply chains continue to evolve in 2026, the China–Europe Railway Express (CRE) remains an indispensable stabilising force and accelerator for Eurasian trade. As forwarders working daily in cross-border rail freight, we set out the latest market dynamics alongside the performance of our core operational hub, Xi'an.
1. Macro market dynamics: diversified corridors, precise transit
- Historic milestone — cumulative CRE trips have officially passed 130,000, and the network now reaches more than 200 cities across 26 European countries.
- Rise of the southern corridor — Trans-Caspian multimodal routes are growing fast. Their normalised operation gives shippers a resilient alternative and spreads congestion risk away from the traditional northern gateways.
- Full-timetable trains — guaranteed full-timetable services are now widely used, which has made schedules far more predictable. Transit to core hubs such as Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany, and Malaszewicze and Łódź in Poland, is faster and more controllable.
2. Spotlight on the Xi'an hub
As the premier assembly centre for the CRE, Xi'an's performance in 2026 has been exceptional:
- Record-breaking pace — departure volumes from Xi'an keep rising, with first-quarter figures showing year-on-year growth above 30%.
- A shift to higher-value cargo — the export mix to Europe and Central Asia is improving quickly, with strong growth in new energy vehicles (NEVs), advanced electronics and precision components.
- China's leading hub — Xi'an continues to lead on volume, heavy-container rate and operational efficiency.
WideSafe is based in the core area of the Xi'an International Port District, which is what makes daily departures — and a monthly capacity of up to 400 TEU to Baku — practical rather than promotional.
3. What this means for your booking
- Direct booking access — a direct connection into the China Railway booking system means first-hand space and no secondary brokers.
- Coverage — premium services connecting China with Europe (Germany, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Italy), the Central Asian countries, and the Caucasus (Azerbaijan and Georgia).
- FCL and self-operated LCL — a solution matched to your actual volume, from a single pallet upward.
- End to end — nationwide pickup, our own warehousing in Xi'an, professional lashing and reinforcement, customs clearance, and DDU or DDP delivery.
Talk to us about your next shipment
Tell us your origin, destination, commodity, volume and weight and we will come back with the next available train on your lane. Email team01@widesafe.com or call +86 180 9297 3095.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Trans-Caspian corridor?
A multimodal route from China through Kazakhstan to the Caspian Sea, then by ferry to Azerbaijan and onward by rail into Europe. It is also called the Middle Corridor or TITR, and it avoids the northern border crossings entirely.
How often do trains leave Xi'an?
Xi'an runs daily departures across the main corridors, including around thirty scheduled trains a month on the Baku lane, where WideSafe holds two dedicated block trains a month plus long-term contracted space.