Silk Road route back in business as China train rolls into London
by Tracy McVeigh from on (#28XAJ)
After 16 days and 7,456 miles, the locomotive's arrival heralds the dawn of a new commercial era
When the East Wind locomotive rumbles into east London this week, it will be at the head of 34 carriages full of socks, bags and wallets for London's tourist souvenir shops, as well as the dust and grime accumulated through eight countries and 7,456 miles.
The train will be the first to make the 16-day journey from Yiwu in west China to Britain, reviving the ancient trading Silk Road route and shunting in a new era of UK-China relations.
Related: David Baddiel on the Silk Road
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