“Since 2008, when the first train arrived from Xiangtan, China, to Hamburg, the rail freight transport services are developing year by year. Currently, there are more than 12 system train connections from Europe to China, like Warsaw- Suzhou, Rotterdam- Lianyugang, Lodz- Chengdu, Duisburg- Chongging, Madrid- Yiwu, Hamburg- Zhengzhou. Last year, 1.250 trains carried 47.000 containers. There are two main routes: either going due north from China and connecting with Russia’s Trans-Siberian or going west across Kazakhstan and feeding into the Trans-Siberian at Yekaterinburg. I can say that the railway alternative is cheaper than air but faster than sea,” Severin Göbl, Head of International Pricing – Rail Cargo Hungaria said, during the Railway PRO Technology and Services Forum, organised by Railway PRO and Club Feroviar, with the support of the Romanian Railway Industry Association in April.
Relating to Europe – China freight transport route, according to its presentation, COSCO has a special combination of sea and rail freight, shortening transit time and cutting costs. And here, „the Piraeus project is a significant advantage against EU North ports, because the main EU port in Mediterranean Sea significantly cuts the transit time: the sea route is shorter by 4.500 km, the sea transit time is shorter by 6-9 days,” Göbl said.
The COSCO’s transport services means significant train movements to CEE terminals involving national rail undertakings from Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary, on Thessaloniki – Idomeni / Gevgelija – Tabanovci/ Presevo – Subotica / Kelebia route. In addition, COSCO targets to reach also relevant East Balkan terminals in the region and tractioning of trains is planned by Piraeus Europe Asia Rail Logistics (PEARL) in partnership with the national RUs.
The shuttle train from Piraeus to East Balkans involves terminals Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, o n Skopje (Fersped) – Belgrade (Pancevo) – Sofia (Ilyanstsi) – Bucharest (Tibbet) route.
Under China’s famous „One Belt One Road” initiative, transporting goods to Europe, using railway transport will cover a 11.000 km distance in 13-15 days, but using sea transport, the 21.000 km distance is covered within 30-35 days.
Currently, China is the biggest trading partner for EU recently with a total value of EUR 700 billion. China’s exports to European Union is USD 432.9 billion, 8.3% of its overall imports.
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