A new scheduled rail service has been launched to connect China’s inland manufacturing powerhouse of Chengdu with the southern export hubs of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The initiative significantly enhances rail freight’s role in the land-sea corridor linking the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle with the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The new corridor is expected to slash transit times, stabilise export supply chains, and improve access to global maritime trade routes via two of Asia’s busiest container terminals. The project highlights growing Chinese confidence in rail freight’s ability to deliver speed, capacity and intermodal reliability over long distances in China’s domestic and international logistics network. This time, however, it’s an eastward progression to the coast.
Rail-sea integration
The “Chengdu–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Rail-Sea Corridor” has been formalised under a cooperation agreement between a quartet of stakeholders, including Hongkong International Terminals (HIT), Chengdu International Railway Port, Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT), and operators at Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. The parties represent a combination of state-owned and privately operated logistics infrastructure stretching from Sichuan to the Pearl River Delta.
The inaugural train departed Chengdu on 28 May, bearing the legend: “Connecting the world across mountains and seas”. At roughly 1600 kilometres (1000 miles), the route offers a compelling economic case for rail, particularly as a rapid land bridge between inland production zones and coastal export terminals. The service builds on growing momentum behind domestic intermodal corridors designed to support China’s high-value foreign trade.
Shaving days off transit time
The new freight service promises a two-day connection from Chengdu to Yantian Port, and delivery to Hong Kong’s Kwai Tsing terminals within three days—a substantial improvement on the previous six-day turnaround. These reductions in dwell and transit times are expected to encourage modal shift, particularly for time-sensitive goods like electronics and components produced in Sichuan and Chongqing.
“By forging strategic partnerships with various stakeholders, we aim to enhance trade connections and expand cargo hinterlands, building a resilient and long-term gateway for inland provinces to connect with global markets,” said Ivor Chow, Managing Director of HIT, which is part of the Hutchison Ports group.
Strategic freight gateway
Most news of Chinese rail freight is international and west-bound and over the New Silk Road. It’s the subject of an annual RailFreight.com conference. However, this is a domestic flow of significance, and also east-bound, emphasising Chengdu’s importance as a rail logistics hub, dispatching around thirty trains a week already. The new route strengthens the role of rail as the backbone of China’s export supply chain strategy. Chengdu, a metropolitan region of over 20 million people, is already a major hub for China-Europe rail freight. The latest initiative bolsters its southern export channel, offering weekly access to more than 170 international container sailings from Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Yantian Port, operated by a joint venture between Hutchison and Shenzhen’s Yantian Port Group, is the only terminal in Shenzhen with direct rail access to the quay. Together with Kwai Tsing, which handles extensive Asia and South America traffic, the ports offer complementary shipping coverage for inland exporters.
Deepening rail freight cooperation
Amy Chan, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics in the Hong Kong SAR Government, said the launch marked “a new era in Hong Kong’s and Shenzhen’s efforts to promote high-quality foreign trade development” and signalled deeper regional integration.
This latest service builds on earlier rail initiatives, including the “Shenzhen–Hong Kong Connect” launched in 2023, which unified rail-sea operations between Kwai Tsing and Yantian. HIT has also developed regular intermodal channels with Guangxi Beibu Gulf Port—another emerging gateway port further west.
Is the new rail terminal in Hong Kong rail connected?
No, the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals in Hong Kong do not have direct rail access. While Hong Kong is a major container port, it primarily relies on road and sea transport for moving containers. Yantian Port in Shenzhen, with direct rail access to its terminal area, is a gateway for European and American routes.
Here’s why:
Limited Rail Infrastructure:
Hong Kong’s rail network is not extensively integrated with the container terminals.
Dominance of Road and Sea:
The majority of container movement in and out of Kwai Tsing is handled by trucks and feeder vessels connecting to larger ships.
Complementary Roles:
While Kwai Tsing focuses on Asia and South America, Yantian Port serves as a crucial rail hub for European and American routes.
Focus on Deep-Water Access:
Hong Kong’s port infrastructure prioritizes deep-water access for large container vessels, allowing for efficient handling of ocean-going traffic.