Port of Hamburg said the new Shandong-Europe Express train will further improve the already extensive train connection between China and Hamburg.

The rail service between Jinan and Hamburg will add more service from the 204 train connections per week marketed and run between the Port of Hamburg and 20 destinations in China last year.

These connection points cover Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalina, Ganzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Qingdao, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Shilong, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xiamen, Xi’an, Yiwu, and Zhengzhou — regularly linked with Hamburg via the New Silk Road.

In 2019, the German port said around 100,000 standard containers (TEU) were transported by rail. 

China is the Port of Hamburg's most important trade partner and Hamburg serves as the gateway to Europe for Chinese goods. Along with handling ocean shipping, the port city is also an important railway hub for transports to and from China. 

"On April 10, the 'Shandong-Europe Express' set out from Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province, on its way to Hamburg. The train is loaded with 41 40-foot containers (FEU) filled with wind turbine parts, LEDs, tools, and medical supplies. Currently, the train only operates from China to Europe," the statement read, noting that carriage in the other direction is not being offered at this time.

“Hamburg is not only a hub for ocean shipping with China but also an important junction for rail traffic between Europe and China on the New Silk Road,” said Axel Mattern, executive board member of Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM).

Hamburg’s Senator for Economics, Michael Westhagemann noted that the improved connections between Hamburg and China provide the Port of Hamburg with great opportunities and are one of its strengths with 12% of German rail cargo transport arriving at or departing from the port.

The Province of Shandong is located on the east coast of China. Economically, it is the third most important province in China with industries related to electronics, machinery, chemicals, textiles, and food processing.

Meanwhile, the Port of Hamburg has a throughput of about 2.6 million TEU of seaborne containers for China annually and the port said: "almost every third container handled on the quays there is coming from or headed to China."

"Shipping by rail closes the gap between airplanes and ships. Trains take two to three weeks for the route between Europe and Asia. In terms of costs, rail cargo is also in between air and sea transport," the Port said. 

The next departures from Jinan are scheduled for May 16 and 30. The freight train is operated by the Shandong Hi-Speed Group as part of their Qilu Europe-Asia freight traffic service. 

The new rail service between Jinan and Hamburg further improves the already extensive supply of train connections between Hamburg. Last year, 204 train connections per week were marketed and run between the Port of Hamburg and 20 destinations in China. Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chonqing, Dalina, Ganzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Qingdao, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Shilong, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Yiamen, Xi’an, Yiwu, and Zhengzhou were regularly linked with Hamburg via the New Silk Road. In 2019, around 100,000 standard containers (TEU) were transported by rail.