As global trade between Asia and Europe continues to grow, the China-Europe Railway Express has become an increasingly important transportation solution connecting businesses across the Eurasian continent.

As a key logistics initiative under the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Europe Railway Express has achieved steady growth in recent years, providing international businesses with a reliable alternative to traditional air and ocean freight. With a strong balance between transportation time and cost, rail freight is gaining popularity among cross-border e-commerce sellers and international trade companies.

What Is China-Europe Railway Express?

The China-Europe Railway Express refers to international container rail services operating between China, Europe, and countries along the Belt and Road routes through scheduled train services and established railway networks.

Since the launch of the first China-Europe freight train service in 2011, the network has developed into a regular and large-scale transportation system connecting hundreds of cities across multiple European countries.

Today, the China-Europe Railway Express has become an important logistics corridor linking Asia and Europe and providing businesses with a stable alternative for international freight transportation.

Advantages of Rail Freight Between China and Europe

Compared with traditional air and ocean transportation, China-Europe Railway Express offers unique advantages in terms of transit time, cost efficiency, and service stability.

Balanced Transit Time and Cost

Rail freight typically takes around 15–20 days for transportation between China and Europe, making it significantly faster than ocean freight, which often requires approximately 30–40 days.

At the same time, rail transportation costs are generally much lower than air freight, often reaching only a fraction of air shipping costs. This makes rail freight an attractive option for businesses seeking a balance between speed and budget.

Reliable and Stable Transportation

Unlike ocean freight, which may be affected by port congestion and longer transit schedules, and air freight, which can be influenced by flight capacity and seasonal demand, rail transportation provides relatively stable service performance.

With fixed routes and scheduled operations, China-Europe Railway Express helps businesses improve supply chain planning and achieve more predictable delivery timelines.

Why More Cross-Border Sellers Are Choosing Rail Freight

For cross-border e-commerce sellers, China-Europe Railway Express provides a practical logistics solution between air freight and ocean freight.

It is especially suitable for:

• Seasonal products requiring faster replenishment
• Inventory restocking shipments
• Medium-volume cargo with cost sensitivity
• Products requiring more predictable delivery schedules

During periods when ocean freight capacity is limited or air freight prices increase, rail transportation provides sellers with a reliable alternative to maintain supply chain continuity.

Golden Sun Express Provides Integrated Rail Logistics Solutions

With the continued development of China-Europe Railway Express, more international logistics providers are expanding their rail freight capabilities.

Shenzhen Golden Sun Express Logistics Co., Ltd. (Golden Sun Express) has incorporated China-Europe Railway Express into its international logistics service portfolio, providing customers with rail transportation solutions connecting China and Europe.

By combining railway transportation with professional customs clearance, overseas delivery, and warehousing capabilities, Golden Sun Express provides customers with integrated China-Europe rail freight solutions designed to simplify cross-border transportation.

Beyond rail freight, Golden Sun Express has developed a comprehensive logistics network covering air freight, ocean freight, international express delivery, and fulfillment services.

The company works with major global shipping carriers, including COSCO Shipping, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, HMM, and CMA CGM, providing access to more than 200 direct consolidation ports.

Golden Sun Express also maintains partnerships with international airlines, including Emirates, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, and Etihad Airways, as well as first-tier cooperation with major express carriers such as DHL, UPS, FedEx, and TNT.

These integrated transportation capabilities enable businesses to select the most suitable logistics solution based on delivery requirements, shipment volume, and cost considerations.

The Future of China-Europe Railway Logistics

As global supply chains continue to evolve and trade between Asia and Europe expands, the China-Europe Railway Express is expected to play an increasingly important role in international logistics.

Future development will focus on improving transportation efficiency, expanding service coverage, and optimizing logistics solutions to better support global businesses.

By providing a reliable connection between Asian manufacturing hubs and European markets, China-Europe Railway Express is becoming an important driver of cross-border trade and a valuable component of modern global logistics networks.

As global cross-border e-commerce continues to expand, logistics has become a critical link between online sellers and customers worldwide. Industry demand is increasingly centered on Amazon FBA first-mile logistics and dedicated shipping services to Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. As a result, logistics providers with integrated end-to-end capabilities are becoming increasingly well positioned to compete in the global market.

In recent years, cross-border e-commerce has emerged as a major driver of international trade. An increasing number of Chinese sellers are using leading global platforms such as Amazon, Mercado Libre, TEMU, TikTok, and Walmart to reach customers in markets around the world.

At the same time, logistics has become an essential part of e-commerce fulfillment. The reliability, speed, and overall quality of logistics services can have a direct impact on sellers’ operational efficiency as well as the customer experience.

FBA First-Mile Logistics Remains a Key Priority

Among the various cross-border logistics services available, Amazon FBA first-mile logistics remains one of the most important areas of demand for online sellers.

Under the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) model, sellers send inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers in their target markets, while Amazon handles subsequent warehousing, picking, packing, delivery, and customer service.

The transportation of goods from China to Amazon fulfillment centers is generally referred to as FBA first-mile logistics.

Air freight and ocean freight are the two primary transportation options. Air freight offers faster transit times but generally comes at a higher cost, while ocean freight provides a more cost-effective option for larger shipments but typically requires longer transit times. Sellers often choose between the two based on product characteristics, inventory levels, sales forecasts, and delivery requirements.

Dedicated Shipping Services Expand Across Key Markets

Beyond FBA first-mile services, dedicated shipping solutions to Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East have also become increasingly important for cross-border sellers.

Dedicated shipping services typically combine air or ocean transportation, local customs clearance, and last-mile delivery to provide a more integrated and cost-effective logistics solution.

Both DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) services have attracted significant attention from sellers. In particular, DDP door-to-door services can simplify customs and tax handling, helping sellers reduce potential clearance-related risks and improve the predictability of international fulfillment.

Express Delivery Remains Essential for Time-Sensitive Shipments

For high-value goods, small parcels, and time-sensitive shipments, major international express carriers such as DHL, UPS, FedEx, and TNT remain widely used by cross-border businesses.

Logistics providers with first-tier contractual relationships with these major carriers can often offer competitive shipping rates and more stable service capabilities, giving sellers greater flexibility when managing urgent or high-value shipments.

Integrated Logistics Capabilities Create New Opportunities

Growing demand for cross-border logistics has accelerated the development of specialized international logistics providers in China.

Shenzhen Golden Sun Express Logistics Co., Ltd. (Golden Sun Express) is one example. Founded in 2014, the company specializes in Amazon FBA first-mile logistics, international air and ocean freight, China-Europe Railway Express, international express delivery, warehousing, and fulfillment services.

Golden Sun Express currently handles more than 1 million shipments annually and serves nearly 100,000 customers worldwide. The company has also established long-term relationships with major e-commerce platforms and brands, including Amazon, Mercado Libre, TEMU, TikTok, Walmart, TCL, and Skyworth.

The Shift Toward End-to-End Logistics Solutions

Industry observers expect the logistics needs of cross-border e-commerce sellers to continue evolving. Rather than relying on transportation alone, sellers are increasingly looking for integrated, end-to-end logistics solutions that can simplify international fulfillment and improve supply chain visibility.

Logistics providers with capabilities across air, ocean, and rail transportation, combined with global customs clearance and last-mile delivery networks, professional warehousing and fulfillment services, and digital logistics management, are expected to be well positioned for continued growth.

As cross-border e-commerce becomes increasingly global and competitive, logistics providers that can combine reliable transportation, efficient fulfillment, and comprehensive international service networks will play an increasingly important role in helping businesses expand into global markets.