CHONGQING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The international freight service on a sea-rail combined transport route linking southwestern Chongqing Municipality to the eastern port city of Ningbo started Tuesday.

The international train, carrying goods such as auto parts and mechanic equipment, set off in the morning from Tuanjiecun train station in Chongqing.

The train will arrive at Beilun Port in Ningbo after 57 hours, a journey at least 12 days shorter than the traditional water transport through the Yangtze River.

The cargo will then be transported to countries around the world by sea from Ningbo.

The train will operate once a week in the initial stage and is expected to become a two-way service which operates on a daily basis later.

According to the logistics authorities of Chongqing, the city will soon start an international train service on a sea-rail combined transportation route between Chongqing and Shanghai.

Over the past few years, Chongqing has grown into an important transportation hub connecting China's hinterland to the world.

The first China-Europe freight train left Chongqing in 2011 and the railway has since been incorporated into the Belt and Road Initiative.

Last year, trains began rolling along Chongqing-Singapore railway line, which links China's hinterland with Southeast Asia.