In the decade since the first container train traveled from China to Europe, the annual flow has increased from 17 trains in 2011, to 10,000 last year,

reported World Railways, a Moscow-based news site. With most of the rail traffic crossing Russia, trains now roll from 60 Chinese cities to Europe. In January 2021, 1,165 freight trains traveled from China to Europe, a 66% yoy jump. In the nine months since the start of dedicated rail service between China and Ukraine, 28 trains have arrived in Kyiv.