The Austrian city of Graz is welcoming its first train from China this morning. A loaded block train with 41 40-foot containers filled with consumer items from Suzhou rolled into the Cargo Center Graz in Werndorf a few hours ago, where it was welcomed by the operator of the train Rail Cargo Group.

The train is filled with typical e-commerce products, like juicers, glass bowls, laundry basket sets, cup holders, and T-shirts. It is yet another example of the growing popularity of e-commerce transport on the New Silk Road. Although this was a one-time departure, more services are in the planning, said Austria-based Rail Cargo Group (RCG).

Every day another train

RCG has already seen many train arrivals and departures on the New Silk Road, but this is the first train it welcomes in Graz. Together with the managing director of the Cargo Center Graz, Christian Steindl, RCG’s sales director Thomas Kargl welcomed the train in person.

In 2020, RCG transported around 70,000 TEUs on the New Silk Road. That is more than double the volumes transported in 2019. The ÖBB subsidiary increased its number of freight trains to 700 last year. Practically, an RCG train travels in each direction on the New Silk Road every day, it noted.

Austria’s Graz

Graz is an important destination within its TransFER network. It is situated between Maribor and Wels and connects to important hubs as Vienna and the Italian port of Trieste.