Shandong Hi‑Speed expands China‑Europe rail services to strengthen international logistics links

According to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shandong Province, published on 5 November 2026, Shandong Hi‑Speed Group oversees the integrated operation of Shandong’s China‑Europe and China‑Central Asia freight trains, developing the rail network as a platform for provincial trade and external opening.

By the end of September, the Shandong services had run more than 17,000 trips in total. Fifty‑seven international routes connect 60 cities across 28 Belt and Road partner nations, carrying manufactured goods and food products outwards while bringing imported commodities into domestic markets.

The operator has refined its network of hubs at home and overseas. Jinan and Qingdao hold national accreditation as dedicated assembly centres for China‑Europe freight trains, with Linyi acting as a secondary inland node and a transfer base operating in Urumqi. Four overseas consolidation points have been established in Almaty, Inđija, Moscow and Vientiane, forming one of the earliest cross‑border collection and distribution frameworks nationwide. The layout follows a “2+4+N” dual circulation structure, building a modern logistics system organised around corridors, hubs and interlinked routes.

Premium scheduled routes form a core part of the network. The full‑timetable service running between Jinan and Budapest is among the first fixed‑schedule links to reach the Hungarian capital, cutting transit times by nearly 30 per cent for high‑value cargo. Branded lines including the SCO Express and the Japan‑Republic of Korea Land‑Sea Express operate on stable timetables, with combined departures passing 5,400. The Qilu Yellow River service supports exporters from riverside cities across Shandong.

Specialised block trains were deployed for local electrical appliance manufacturers during sustained heatwaves across Europe in the summer, stabilising supply chains for shipments bound for European and Central Asian markets.

Alongside infrastructure development, tailored commercial services have been rolled out for industrial clients. Dedicated trains for tyres, chemical goods and finished vehicles have run more than 900 times for key provincial enterprises. These bespoke services match shipment profiles to individual production schedules for local manufacturers.

Shandong Hi‑Speed will continue to adjust train planning around export demand, raise service standards and extend its logistics coverage to support Shandong foreign trade enterprises.