WUHAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Operator of a rail link between central China's Wuhan City to Europe said it expected a 30 percent growth in the number of freight trains in 2018.

About 500 freight trains are expected to head to Europe from Wuhan in 2018, compared with 377 in 2017, which carried a total of 34,000 containers, according to Wuhan Han'ou International Logistics Co., the operator of Wuhan-Europe rail transport.

The Wujiashan Terminal is the starting point for Wuhan-Europe rail freight services and had three rail lines for arrivals and departures last year, and another five more lines were installed this month to meet rising transport demand, according to Wu Guangming, general manager of the company.

Wu said the company expected to handle more freight, not only from neighboring provinces but also from northeast China, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Guangdong.

The company is planning to open new routes from Wuhan to Ukraine, Turkey and Iran.

Starting from 2012, Wuhan Han'ou International Logistics Co. has run 16 rail routes to European cities including Pardubice in the Czech Republic, Gorzow in Poland, Moscow in Russia, Hamburg and Duisburg in Germany, and Lyon in France.

The trains departing Wuhan carry automobiles, electronic components, steel products and optical fibers and cables, while returning trains are usually loaded with dairy products from Belarus, wine from France and beer from Germany.

In total, China-Europe rail services are available between 28 Chinese cities and 29 cities in 11 European countries. More than 4,000 freight train trips have been made between Chinese and European cities since start of operations in 2011.

The first China-Europe line was launched in 2011 between southwest China metropolis of Chongqing and Duisburg in Germany.