The first special train carrying cargo to India along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor sets off from Chongqing. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

A special train heading to India that departed from Chongqing on April 10 is the first of its kind along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.

The train is carrying 25 containers of auto spare parts, worth over 8 million yuan ($1.2 million.) Compared to the traditional river-sea transportation, the railway-sea transportation is expected to take 14 days less to reach its destination.

The railway-sea transportation along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor started in April 2017 and has sent 875 trains carrying cargo worth $430 million for external trade and $2.31 billion for internal trade.

The trains are bound for 71 countries and regions around the world to transport vehicles, auto spare parts, architectural ceramics, chemical raw materials and products, light industrial products, medicine, grains, and frozen food.

With cooperation with more steamship companies, the railway-sea transportation will continue to improve and is expected to boost Chongqing's expansion into India's automobile market.