New Rail Routes Launched in Central Asia, Bypassing Russia

The Middle Corridor trade route is expanding, with China and Kazakhstan announcing the launch of a new freight rail transit line.

This new route will deliver Chinese goods to Europe while bypassing Russia, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

According to a statement issued by Kazakhstan’s State Railway company, the first container train following the new route departed Chengdu in central China on March 4 heading for the Polish city of Lodz. The train, carrying televisions and other electronic components, is expected to complete the journey within 40 days, traversing Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey before reaching the European Union’s border.

“This route not only expands the region's transport capabilities, but also makes international logistics even more flexible, fast and reliable,” the Kazakh Railways statement asserts.

China is also developing two additional westbound freight transit routes that circumvent Russia via Kazakhstan and across the Caspian Sea, depriving the Kremlin of transit income and denting its geopolitical leverage.

“The flow of Chinese goods that went through Russia is switching to new routes,” gloated a commentary published by the Ukrainian news outlet Dialog. “Moscow no longer controls logistics between Asia and Europe; this lever of political pressure is now in the hands of Kazakhstan, China and Turkey.”

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s state railway agency announced the launch of a new freight transit route connecting India to Kazakhstan. Twelve containers were recently loaded onto a freighter at the Indian port of Mundra for transport to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. From there, the containers will make their way by rail via Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan before reaching its destination outside Astana, the Kazakh capital. The total travel time for the shipment of ceramic tiles is estimated at 25-30 days.

The new route has the potential to significantly reduce transport costs, while “broadening opportunities for exporters and importers,” the Uzbek statement noted.