A new freight train service began operating on Thursday from Handan international land port in Handan, Hebei province.

At 10:58 am, a train carrying 3,200 metric tons of soybeans departed from the port, signaling the official launch of the port's dedicated railway line.

The 8.9-kilometer line connects directly to four major railway routes: Beijing-Guangzhou (Guangdong province), Handan-Huanghuagang (Cangzhou, Hebei province), Handan-Changzhi (Shanxi province), and Handan-Jinan (Shandong province).

With an annual capacity of five million tons of cargo and 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the railway will handle bulk goods, vehicles, and containers, reducing logistics costs and environmental impact from road transport, according to Kang Qiang, deputy general manager of Handan International Land Port Co.

The port plans to introduce China-Europe railway express services after completing customs facilities, providing one-stop clearance that will enhance convenience for local businesses, Kang said.