The time-and-cost-effective rail service offers an immediate and reliable solution for multiple customers during the peak season

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach^[1] - 7 January 2021 - Fifty FEU containers carrying chemical, industrial and retail goods departed from Suzhou, China and reached its destination terminal at Ludwigshafen, Germany in 31 days on December 29 amidst the busy peak season. This is the first westbound block train organized by logistics service provider Dachser^[2], which established its eastbound block train service earlier at 2020.

Dachser's first westbound block train arrived at Ludwigshafen from Suzhou in 32 days amidst the peak season.

The "New Silk Road", connecting China to Europe via Erenhot in Mongolia, then Russia, Belarus and Poland, offers an overland route with stable conditions for transporting chemical goods, and this option is faster than container sea freight ships.

On top of chemical products, Dachser is seeing a trend that more customers from diversified industries have shown interest in intermodal transportation.

"The pandemic has brought more demand on rail freight due to the shortage of air and sea freight capacity. The current peak season has added fuel to the market, so it brings even more customers from various industries, such as retail to look for rail as an alternative solution," said Yves Larquemin, Managing Director Air & Sea Logistics Far East North.

"Shipping by rail is more reliable in terms of time, customers can avoid blank sailing by vessel carriers or sudden flight cancellations. In terms of cost, rail freight is more economical than air."

Thanks to the strong partnership with the railway operator RTSB, Dachser can apply the extra block train via Suzhou flexibly. The Dachser team in China also coordinated with RTSB to handle all pre-carriage procedures including pick up, gate-to-terminal and customs clearance. When the train arrived Ludwigshafen in Germany, Dachser's branch in Mannheim immediately organized with a local intermodal freight transport company to divert the containers to Ludwigshafen am Rhein as well as further cities in Germany such as Duisburg and Schwarzhede.

The rail solution from Suzhou to Ludwigshafen by Dachser is highly appreciated by its customers and it may become a reliable option to connect the two continents in the future.

References

1. ^{^} Media OutReach (www.media-outreach.com)
2. ^{^} Dachser (www.dachser.hk)