Freight trains from China to Europe via Russia need about 12–16 days. 19000 fright trains per year males an average of 30–50 trains per day making this trip.

The closure is very symbolic. Russian trains cannot run directly into Europe. They use broad gauge (1,520 mm), while Poland uses standard gauge (1,435 mm). Usually at Belarus–Poland border, in Brest, trains are adapted: freight is reloaded or bogies are changed before continuing into Europe.

This blocks the Northern Silk Road train traffic from China to Europe. For Belarus the volume container traffic from China to Western Europe is over 20% of Belarusian Railway's entire volume of container transportation. 🧵🪡

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