A new China-Europe freight route between Wuhan in central China’s Hubei province and Gothenburg in Sweden was launched on Wednesday, becoming the first freight train service to Sweden.

The cross-border freight train service takes about 23 days to reach Sweden, combining rail and sea transport, and can save less than half the transport time compared to traditional routes.

The freight train, loaded with new energy vehicles, auto parts and other goods, will pass through Hamburg in Germany via Alashankou Port in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to reach Gothenburg.

At present, the China-Europe (Wuhan) freight route covers three Nordic countries – Finland, Norway and Sweden – giving new impetus to the field of new energy vehicles.

Inaugurated in October 2012, the Wuhan route operates 55 cross-border freight routes, connecting more than 117 cities in 40 Eurasian countries. The China-Europe freight train service has transformed cross-border logistics, facilitated economic and trade exchanges and boosted prosperity along the way.

In recent years, Hubei Province has become a leader in China’s automotive industry in terms of industrial development.