The calligraphy train

The topic for today's Sunday Stamps is free choice.

I have selected this train stamp sent by Eva in Spain.

I had never heard of this amazing rail connection before.

From the Correos website:

It is a joint issue with China, and celebrates a new 'Silk Road' or trade route between Madrid and Yiwu. The cargo train has run the 13,000 kilometres between the two cities since 18 November 2014.

Twice a week, the so-called Silk Train begins its long and arduous journey to China. It departs from Madrid and runs exactly 13,052 kilometres, passing through France, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan. When it reaches the Chinese city and trading hub of Yiwu, it unloads its merchandise and starts the journey back to Madrid.

During its journey, the train has to adapt up to three times to the different track gauges in the different countries it passes through. It is worth noting that the Silk Train is a much more environmentally friendly option than the same route by road, saving up to 70 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Today, this intercontinental crossing takes 16 days, something inconceivable in past centuries, when trade routes were mostly maritime.

This train does not accept passengers. It carries only cargo, products imported from China that we use in our daily lives, and Spanish products which are now in high demand all over the world, such as olive oil, ham and other Iberian pork products, Spanish wine, etc.

The stamp depicts the Silk Train, with some of the stamps showing the outward journey, and others the return.

The Premium Sheet depicts a map with the train’s route over train tracks.

The stamp on the envelope features the train outward bound from Madrid, although the envelope went in a westerly direction by air, with very nice calligraphy.

And the writing paper also suggests a journey, although perhaps one on foot or by car, as I don't see any rails on the map :)

To explore other links to blog entries for today's Sunday Stamps, click here.