A groundbreaking container shipping service in the Black Sea is revolutionizing the efficiency of China-Europe freight trains departing from Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. This innovative rail-sea intermodal transportation route traverses the Caspian and Black Seas, significantly enhancing logistics speed and overall efficiency.
On Tuesday, the first freight train benefiting from this service set off from Xi'an International Port Station, heading to Mannheim, Germany. The dedicated shipping service replaces the previous reliance on collective public transport, allowing cargo such as machinery parts and equipment to travel more swiftly.
Yuan Xiaojun, general manager of Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd., highlighted that the waiting period in Poti, a key port city in Georgia, has been drastically shortened. Upon arrival in EU countries, containers are now transferred to self-operated locomotives and rail cars, reducing intermodal transit time by two-thirds.
The route spans several countries and regions, including Kazakhstan, Georgia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, covering a total distance of 11,300 km. The train is expected to reach its final destination in early September.
In the first seven months of this year, Xi'an has handled 2,998 China-Europe freight trains, marking a 28.6% year-on-year increase. Cargo volume has surged by 19.5% to reach 3.27 million tonnes, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. This growth underscores the pivotal role of improved logistics in connecting global markets.
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Container ship service boosts China-Europe freight train efficiency
cgtn.com
