A freight train departs from Shanxi province for Afghanistan on Oct 12. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

North China's Shanxi province launched its first freight train service to Afghanistan on Oct 12, adding a new route to the province's freight train network to Europe and Central Asia. 

The train is loaded with clothing and steel pipes weighing 1,200 metric tons and departed from the Zhongding Logistics Park for Mazar-e-Sharif, a city in northern Afghanistan. It will arrive at its destination 20 days after departure.

It's the 302nd China-Europe (Central Asia) cargo train launched by Shanxi province since 2018. Over the past three years, the province's freight train network has grown to cover 25 cities in 10 countries, greatly expanding Shanxi's international logistics channel and global logistics supply chain.