China Railway Express containers are loaded onto a freight train as it is prepared ahead of departure from DP World London Gateway's rail freight depot in Corringham, east of London, on April 10, 2017, enroute to Yiwu in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang.
The first freight train from Britain to China departed from DP World London Gateway's freight terminal Monday, on an 18-day, 12,000-kilometre (7,450-mile) intercontinental journey to Jiwu in China. London is the 15th city to be linked to a new freight network offered by the state-run China Railway Corporation, which is billed as cheaper than air transport and quicker than shipping. / AFP PHOTO / Isabel Infantes        (Photo credit should read ISABEL INFANTES/AFP/Getty Images)