HOHHOT -- A total of 2,158 China-Europe freight trains passed through the border port of Erenhot in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region in the first 11 months of this year, an increase of 53.4 percent year-on-year, according to the local railway operator.

Among them, the number of outbound trains during the period was 1,023, up 54.3 percent year-on-year, while 1,135 inbound trains were recorded, up 52.6 percent, according to China Railway Hohhot Group.

To better meet the needs of the China-Europe freight train service, Erenhot's railway department transformed part of its bulk cargo space, which originally handled logs and iron ore, into container reloading areas for the trains. The train reloading and handling capacities have risen by some 30 percent.

Initiated in 2011, the China-Europe cargo rail transport service is considered a significant part of the Belt and Road Initiative to boost trade between China and countries participating in the program. Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the service remains a reliable transportation channel.

The Erenhot Port is the largest land port on the border between China and Mongolia. So far, there are 42 routes of China-Europe freight trains via the land port.