AKIPRESS.COM - A direct sea and rail freight service between the Republic of Korea, China and Mongolia was launched this week, cutting transport time by nearly half, according to China.org.cn.

On Wednesday morning, a train carrying 100 containers departed from Qinhuangdao Port in north China's Hebei province for Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, marking the opening of the new route.

Previously, containers from South Korea were transported by ships to Qinhuangdao Port, and then went through several train transfers before arriving in Ulaanbaatar. The new service allows the trains to travel directly to Ulaanbaatar, reducing the route by four days.

The train, with a designed volume of 100 standard containers, is scheduled to depart every Wednesday.