Chinese trains packed with ACs speed into Europe to help with heat wave

TransportationFreight rail link helps shave 25 days off travel time compared with sea routesChina opened the China-Europe freight rail line, seen here from Chongqing, as part of its Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. (Photo by Kohei Fujimura)KOHEI FUJIMURAAugust 1, 2026 10:40 JSTDALIAN, China -- China State Railway Group is boosting shipments of air conditioners to Europe as heat waves batter the continent this summer, using a China-Europe freight line to reduce transport time to around 15 days compared with 40 days by sea.