SHANGHAI—The coronavirus pandemic is boosting a core element of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, as rising prices and disruptions in sea and air shipping force companies to turn to trains.
Railways that China has revived in recent years, connecting the country to Europe through Central Asia, just notched their busiest month yet. China Railway Corp., which operates the trains in China, said it recorded 976 trips in April, a 47% increase year-over year. The trains were carrying cargo equivalent to the capacity of four of the…