The first train departed Friday from Binzhou, marking the first internal cargo train service for the Yellow River Delta, according to the local railway administration.

The train will travel seven days along the 5,630-km line, passing through Kazakhstan before reaching Uzbekistan.

The service will initially run one train per week.

Two more cargo lines will be launched to link the city with Russia and Germany, authorities with the administration added.

According to Zhao Qingping, deputy mayor of Binzhou City, the cargo lines are expected to boost economic and cultural exchanges between the delta and Central Asia and Europe.