The world’s largest inland terminal in Duisburg sent its first freight train to Chengdu, China’s fourth most populous metropolis. The inauguration of the Chengdu-Europe Express comes a few days after Duisport signed a MoU with Xi’an International Inland Port Group, signalling a trend in enhancing connectivity to important Chinese cities.
The first Duisburg-Chengdu train departed on Monday, 7 July 2025 from the Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT). It was loaded with “electronics, German cars, European specialties such as biscuits, beer and wine – as well as medicines and powdered milk”, Diusport said on LinkedIn. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking Chinese delegates, including the Chinese province of Sichuan, led by Party Secretary Wang Xiaohui, Chinese Ambassador to Germany Deng Hongbo, and Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Düsseldorf Yu Yong.
The launch of the new initiative is just the latest initiative for DGT in the China-Europe rail freight landscape. The terminal, inaugurated less than a year ago, has already been operating eastbound and westbound China-Europe services. Moreover, just a few days ago, Duisport signed the aforementioned Memorandum of Understanding with Xi’An International Inland Port Group and DB Cargo Eurasia. Last but not least, a new rail connection between Xi’An and Duisburg was launched by Ziegler Group.
