China-Europe Rail Network and India's Search for Reliable Routes to Eurasia
A recent analysis compared China's fast-growing freight rail network to Europe with India's slower progress in building land links to Eurasia (the combined landmass of Europe and Asia).
India is relying on two main connectivity projects: the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) through Iran and Russia, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) through the Gulf and Israel.
Geopolitical tensions, such as sanctions on Iran and conflict in West Asia, have slowed both projects. So India still lacks a dependable land-and-sea link to Europe.
In contrast, the China-Europe Railway Express keeps expanding. It now gives China many rail routes to Europe and a backup when sea routes are disrupted.
The China-Europe trains made 20,022 trips in 2025, and the total crossed 130,000 trips by May 2026.
The analysis suggests that a change in India-China relations could, over time, widen India's options for reaching Eurasian markets.
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
The Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, is China's huge plan to build and fund roads, railways, ports, pipelines, power plants and digital networks in other countries. The aim is to connect China by land and sea with Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond. It was announced in 2013 and is the largest infrastructure programme ever run by one country. India is one of the few major countries in Asia that has openly refused to join it.
The China-Europe Railway Express is the most visible success of the BRI's land routes, giving China several rail paths to Europe that work even when shipping is disrupted. India stays out of the BRI over CPEC and debt concerns, so it must depend on its own corridors, which have been slowed by sanctions and conflict. This is the gap the analysis highlights.
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
The International North-South Transport Corridor, or INSTC, is a network of sea, rail and road routes that connects India to Russia and northern Europe through Iran. Goods go by ship from Indian ports like Mumbai to Iranian ports, then by road and rail through Iran, Azerbaijan or the Caspian Sea to Russia. It is India's main planned land-and-sea link to Eurasia.
The INSTC is one of the two projects India relies on to reach Europe and Central Asia. Sanctions on Iran and regional tensions have slowed it, while China's rail network to Europe has kept growing.
India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, or IMEC, is a planned trade route linking India to Europe through the Arabian Peninsula. Goods would go by ship from India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), by rail across Saudi Arabia and Jordan to Israel, and by ship again from Israel to Europe. It also plans electricity cables, hydrogen pipelines and digital cables along the route.
IMEC is India's second big bet for reaching Europe without relying on China or Pakistan. Like the INSTC, it has been held back by geopolitical tensions, which is why the analysis contrasts it with the working China-Europe rail network.
- China-Europe Railway Express: first service Chongqing to Duisburg, March 2011
- 100,000th trip: 15 November 2024; total passed 130,000 trips by May 2026
- Trips in 2025: 20,022; network covered 227 European cities in 25 countries (late 2024)
- Rail transit about 2 to 3 weeks vs about 30 days or more by sea
- BRI announced 2013; six land economic corridors; India has not joined
- INSTC: agreement 12 September 2000, St Petersburg; about 7,200 km
- IMEC: MoU at G20 New Delhi, September 2023; 8 signatories (7 countries plus the EU)
- US ended Chabahar sanctions exemption: September 2025