China train covers the longest route to London

London: Ending one of the longest train journeys in the world, the first freight train from China to the United Kingdom reached to the city of London, more than two weeks after it left the Chinese port city of Yiwu, covering the journey of nearly 8,000 miles.

This step initiated by the countries is said to strengthen the bond and improve trade relations between both the nations.

Richard Doubtfire, seafreight director at Brunel Shipping & Liner Services, one of two British companies handling logistics for the journey said, "It is hoped this will further improve trade ties between China and the UK."

The China Railway officials stated that London is the 15th European city to be added to Chinese overseas train routes. The officials further stated that the Yiwu-London route is one of the China's "One Belt One Road" trade initiative, often referred to as the new Silk Road, a network of historic trade routes.

The China Railway Express train left Yiwu on January 1 and passed through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France over the course of its 18-day trip before reaching itas destination through the Channel Tunnel.

According to the liner service officials, the train was packed with 34 containers carrying clothes, shoes, suitcases and other goods made in China."

"It will run as a weekly service, similar to trains China Railway already operates to Germany and Spain. The Yiwu-Madrid route is currently the longest rail journey in the world," stated Doubtfire.

The officials handling the process said that during the trip, the train's locomotives had to be changed due to different railway gauges in the countries it passes through.