Freight trains linking Chengdu, Milan

CHENGDU - A freight train service linking Milan of Italy with Chengdu of China has been launched.

A train left Italy's second largest city Tuesday morning local time and is scheduled to arrive in Chengdu after a 10,694-kilometer journey over 14 days, the Qingbaijiang district government in Chengdu said Wednesday.

The train service will import machineries, high-end furniture and ceramic tiles from Italy.

Freight trains now connect Chengdu with 11 major cities in Europe.

The train is part of the China-Europe freight train service. In 2016, 460 cargo trains left Chengdu bound for Europe, 26 percent of all freight trains leaving China for Europe.

In 2017, the number of Europe-bound freight trains from Chengdu will exceed 1,000, according to the city's port and logistics office.

The number of China-Europe freight trains reached a new high this year since starting operations in 2011, according to China Railway Corporation.

So far this year, more than 3,000 cargo trains have traveled on 57 lines between cities on the two continents, surpassing the past six years combined, and pushing the aggregate to over 6,000.