Storyline: China on Wednesday launched its first timetabled China-Europe freight rail service from Xi'an to Prague, aimed at sharply improving delivery speed and reliability along the cross-continental route. The train departs from Xi'an International Port and travels through Kazakhstan and Russia before reaching the Czech capital, completing the 11-day and 4-hour journey under a fixed schedule agreed by rail operators along the line. "The containers, after arriving Prague, will be distributed to different destinations, not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Slovakia, Austria, also Berlin in Germany," said Koubek Martin, project manager with Czech logistics company Metrans. Timetabled services are designed to offer more stable transit times and strengthen the resilience of global supply and industrial chains. "The new service cuts transit time by 30 percent, from 18 days to 11 days and 4 hours. It is not only a speed improvement but also a major step forward in the reliability and predictability of China-Europe freight services," said Dong Wanxu, chairman of Beijing Trans-Eurasia International Logistics Co. Ltd. The Prague route is the second fully timetabled China-Europe line in Xi'an after its service to Duisburg, marking further progress of the city in building a more diversified and efficient network. From January to October 2025, Xi'an has operated 5,063 China-Europe freight trains, up 16.3 percent year on year, setting a record for the period and remaining among the national leaders in volume and capacity. Shotlist: Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, northwest China - Nov 19, 2025: 1. Various of train running 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Koubek Martin. Project Manager Silk Road, Metrans "The containers, after arriving Prague, will be distributed to different destinations, not only in the Czech Republic, but also in Slovakia, Austria, also Berlin in Germany." 3. Aerial shots of train running, containers at port 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Dong Wanxu, chairman of Beijing Trans-Eurasia International Logistics Co. Ltd. (ending with shot 5): "The new service cuts transit time by 30 percent, from 18 days to 11 days and 4 hours. It is not only a speed improvement but also a major step forward in the reliability and predictability of China-Europe freight services." 5. Aerial shots of containers at port Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, northwest China - Recent: 6. Aerial shots of trains, containers at port [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]