The number of China-Europe freight trains has registered a significant increase in the first half of this year as freight trains continue to play a vital role in maintaining global supply chain amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the country's railway operator.

The freight trips between China and Europe rose 36 percent year-on-year to 5,122 during the first six months this year, said China State Railway Group on Friday, adding that the figure hit a record monthly high of 1,169 in June.

With maritime and air cargo transport at near-standstill due to the pandemic, China-Europe freight trains have become a more favorable choice and transported a total of 461,000 standard-sized shipping containers between the two regions, up 41 percent from last year, it added.

Since the first train carrying medical supplies departed from the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu, Zhejiang province, on March 21, the China-Europe freight trains have transported 27,000 tons of epidemic prevention materials to European countries by the end of last month.

The company has also worked closely with multiple railway authorities along the route to cut the journey time and improve efficiency, it said.