Two special economic zones, the Chinese Zibo and the Russian Ulyanovsk, have been connected via a new service spanning 9,000 km.

The pilot train - carrying 53 containers loaded with car parts, building materials, sporting goods, and equipment for the oil & gas industry - departed from China on 29 June and arrived in Russia on 14 July.

A shipment of grains and sunflower oil was carried in the opposite direction.

The service will run every three weeks.

Source: RailFreight.com