The first direct freight train from China to the UK has arrived in London
The first freight train service from China to the UK arrives at DB Cargo's rail freight terminal in Barking.Stefan Rousseau/PA Images
The first ever direct freight train from China to the UK has arrived to a fanfare in Barking, east London.
The train, carrying millions of pounds worth of socks, cloth, bags, and household goods, set off 18 days ago from the manufacturing city of Yiwu.
It has travelled more than 7,500 miles across seven countries and through the Channel Tunnel to reach London – where a crowd of politicians, journalists and excited residents greeted it.
There were also people dressed up as two colourful Chinese dragons entertaining the crowds before the train arrived just after 1pm.
Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Cllr Darren Rodwell said: “This is great news for the borough and London.
“It’s a sign of Barking and Dagenham being at the epicentre of the capital’s eastward shift. You could say it’s the rising east meets the far East.”
The new weekly service is thought to be quicker than a container ship and half the price of air freight.
London is the 15th European city to be served by freight trains from China.
The 34-carriage train reportedly contains £4 million of commodities coming directly from the factory floors of Yiwu, where over 60 per cent of the world’s Christmas goods are made or sold.
The eastern city is the source of countless items in most British homes.
Differing rail gauges in different countries means no single train can travel the whole route and the containers have to be reloaded at various stages.
The Chinese locomotive is named after a famous quote from the communist revolutionary leader Mao Zedong: “The east wind will prevail over the west wind.”
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