Abstract
More than 2000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road was a major trade link between the East and West. However, technological change and dramatic declines in transportation costs have since made it obsolete as container shipping and the advent of cargo flights have shifted trade from the surface to the sea or air. Nevertheless, China recently announced a new initiative that aims at establishing new connections between Europe and Asia, which are bypassing more modern transport routes in favor of railway connections. This special issue is dedicated to research related to this new initiative.