Aerial photo shows a China-Europe freight train. Photo: Xinhua

The Zhengzhou section of the China-Europe freight train has officially resumed operation on Sunday, after rail freight operations between Zhengzhou, capital city of Central China's Henan Province and Europe, was suspended on July 20 due to an unprecedented deluge, local authority announced on Sunday.

At 11:30 this morning, the China-Europe freight train (Zhengzhou) departing from Liege, Belgium arrived at the Zhengzhou Railway Port, marking the resumption of normal operations of the China-Europe Express (Zhengzhou), according to a post from the Zhengzhou government on Sunday.

The train is said to depart from Zhengzhou Railway Port at 6 in Sunday afternoon, read the post.

The heaviest rainfall in 60 years in Zhengzhou has attracted worldwide attention and disrupted transportation across the province as well as across the country. 

Multiple rail routes and highways through the province have been cut off due to extreme weather, while large number of air flights were canceled as record rainfall across the province pummeled Henan cities and villages.

Apart from serving as a key transport hub in China, Zhengzhou is one of the five major consolidation centers for China-Europe trains. The city is a crossroad when it comes to crossing specific border points.

Industry observers told the Global Times on Sunday that the flood arrived as many exporters have already started shipping Christmas products, with the rail link was considered as an ideal transport route to avoid delays when ocean shipment getting more expensive and inaccessible.

Since the first China-Europe freight train departed from Southwest China's Chongqing city, in March 2011, the service has reached more than 160 cities in 22 European countries, according to a report from the Xinhua News Agency in June.

The rail link was also considered as a silver lining amid a devastating pandemic, which has boosted fragile supply chains in Eurasian countries and saved businesses in both China and Europe.

Global Times