China Railway International Intermodal Passenger Train

China Railway International Intermodal Passenger Train
Overview
Owner	China Railways
Locale	China •  Laos •  Mongolia •  Russia •  Vietnam •  Kazakhstan •  North Korea
Service
Type	International Train
Operator(s)	CR Naning CR Hohhot CR Harbin CR Beijing CR Xi'an CR Kunming CR Urumqi
Rolling stock	EMU：Fuxing CR200J EMU Electric Locomotive：HX3C Diesel Locomotive：DF4D DF8 Coaches：CR Type 25B, CR Type 25G, CR Type 25T
History
Opened	June 4, 1959 (1959-06-04) (K3/4)
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)
Electrification	AC 25 kV 50 Hz Overhead cable
Signalling	CTCS

China Railway International Intermodal Passenger Train is a passenger train service that jointly operates with Korean State Railway (KSR), Laos–China Railway (LCR), Ulaanbaatar Railway (UBTZ), Russian Railways (RZD), Vietnam Railways (VNR) and Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) running between Mainland China and neighbouring countries.

To strengthen the connection within the socialist camp after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Railways launched the Beijing–Moscow (via Manchuria) K3/4 train. Afterwards, several train routes like Beijing–Pyongyang and Beijing–Ulaanbaatar commenced operations, serving diplomatic, official and civilian exchange purposes.

Sino-Russian train services were reduced as a result of the Sino-Soviet split, but trains to North Korea and Vietnam (suspended due to war) remained in service. Since 1985 the Beijing–Moscow service rerouted through Ulaanbaatar to reduce the running time.

More routes have been opened in response to the demand of international trading and travel. China commenced the Urumqi–Almaty route in 1996, and the Nanning–Hanoi and Urumqi–Astana routes after 2000. Also, the Beijing–Moscow train facilities were upgraded to attract international visitors.

Due to COVID-19, all trains were suspended from January 2020. With the relaxation of border control in December 2022, the Laos–China electric multiple units commenced operations, and routes to Mongolia, Russia and Vietnam resumed. The tourist train between Xi'an and Almaty was commenced on 29 May 2025. The Beijing–Pyongyang route is expected to resume in August 2025.^[1]

International Train ticketing office at Beijing

Sino-Vietnamese train ticket counter

All passengers must proceed to immigration at border stations, for example passenger to Vietnam will proceed to immigration at Pingxiang, Guangxi and Dong Dang, Lang Son. Due to different gauge between China and neighboring countries, most trains must break-of-gauge at border stations, with the exception of the Sino-Vietnamese train, which the gauntlet track is installed between Pingxiang and Gia Lam stations.^[3]

For ticketing, except Z5/6 can be bought from China Railway Travel Service, other train tickets can be bought from CITS, and a processing fee of 50 yuan is charged per ticket, station counters can only buy domestic section tickets, and most domestic sections are available in electronic tickets with the exception of K4 and K24 using written tickets. Passengers can refer to the official schedule.^[4]

All K19/20 "Vostok" tickets can be buy from CTS offices designated by CR Harbin, 401/402 tickets can be buy from ^[5]

Tickets for 4652/4653 can be bought from Erenhot station,^[6] the return trip 4654/4651 can be only bought from Ulaanbaatar station, CR only sell domestic section tickets for this train, 681~686 has a designated counter in Erenhot.^[7]

T8701/8702 tickets can be bought along the calling stations and the Naning–Hanoi (Gia Lam) section can be bought from Guilin station.

Tickets for K9795/9796 and K9797/K9798 can be bought from Urumqi Station and Khorgos Station^[8]。

Sino-Lao EMU tickets can be bought from 12306 CR app and LCR app online.

• Intercity Through-train
• Trans-Eurasia Logistics
• Eurasian Landbridge

• Official information