ISTANBUL, June 18 (Reuters) - Pasifik Eurasia Lojistik

said it has signed a railway transport agreement with

a subsidiary of China Railway to launch cargo train services

along a corridor from China passing through Turkey into Europe,

bypassing Russia.

Ten train services will be operated initially, with the goal

of reaching 1,000 services per year.

The partnership with the state-owned company overseeing

railway logistics across China is expected to accelerate freight

volumes along what is known as the Middle Corridor.

The Middle Corridor is a China-Europe cargo route promoted

by the West as an alternative to shipments via Russia, and it

includes Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

The agreement will ensure time and cost advantages when

compared to the North Corridor via Russia, parent company

Pasifik Holding Chairman Fatih Erdogan said.

"The cost of transporting through the Middle Corridor

provides a 500-1000 dollar advantage per container compared to

the Northern Corridor following the Ukraine-Russia war," Erdogan

said.

The agreement will also accelerate the current 25-35 days

average duration from China to Europe, compared with 40-53 days

through the other route.