“Rail freight between China and Europe: a fast and economical option
Rail freight and logistics solutions between China and Europe have made significant strides in addressing many of our customers’ challenges. Our rail freight solutions from China to Europe offer an alternative to the problems encountered with traditional air and sea freight.
Advantages of rail freight
Speed: Faster than a boat
Rail journeys from China to Europe, from terminal to terminal, take 15 to 18 days depending on the route. That’s about half the time it takes to transport a container by ship.
With these shorter transit times, businesses can respond more quickly to changing market demands. Additionally, shorter transit times lead to more rotations, reducing inventory in the supply chain. In other words, businesses can free up working capital and reduce their cost of capital.
The cost savings of stock interest payments is another benefit. Thus, for example, for high-value electronics, rail is an attractive alternative to ocean shipping.
Cost: Cheaper than a plane
Ocean freight has the lowest cost and is currently the preferred mode of transportation in and out of China. However, the shipping time is long. So when speed matters, air freight comes into play, albeit at a much higher cost.
Depending on origin, destination and volume, shipping a container door-to-door via rail freight costs about twice as much as ocean freight and a quarter as much as air freight.
China-Europe Railway Freight Route
Freight trains have two main routes, and some sub-routes:
The southern route through Kazakhstan and southern Russia is best for travel to and from central China, such as Chengdu, Chongqing and surrounding areas of Zhengzhou.
The northern line through Siberia is an ideal choice for container transportation in the northern areas around Beijing, Dalian, Suzhou and Shenyang. In Europe, the most important terminals are Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany, and Warsaw in Poland.
Consolidate various cargoes in fully controlled shipping
In addition to Full Container Load (FCL), LCL has recently become available, where logistics providers arrange to consolidate multiple loads from different customers into a FCL. This makes railways an attractive solution for small shipments.
For example, DSV offers a direct LCL rail service that runs regularly:
Shanghai to Düsseldorf: weekly freight service with two full 40-foot containers
Shanghai to Warsaw: 6 to 7 40ft containers per week
Shenzhen to Warsaw: One to two 40-foot containers per week
In recent years, China has invested heavily in Asia-Europe railways under the “”One Belt, One Road”” initiative, building its own terminals and railway lines. These investments mean shorter transit times and lower costs in the long run.
More improvements are on the way. Refrigerated (refrigerated) containers will be used on a larger scale. This will allow perishable items to be handled more efficiently. Currently, air freight is the main way to transport perishable items, which is an expensive solution. The potential to transport non-standard size containers and dangerous goods is also being studied.
Rail Freight – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the transit time from China to Europe using rail freight solutions?
Depending on the origin/destination, it usually takes about 16-19 days to travel from terminal to terminal using a regular train.
How many stops does the train make during the journey?
Due to the different gauges, the train has to stop at least 2 times to change the container to a different rail car. (Russian gauge: 1,520mm; European and Chinese gauge: 1,435mm)
How often do rail freight freight trains run?
Depending on the originating station, there are several weekly departures from China to Europe and Europe to China.
How safe is rail freight for my cargo?
Rail freight is safe and border terminals are protected in a similar way to marine terminals. A moving train cannot be stopped, so the chances of your cargo being stolen are similar to ocean shipping.
Are the cargo loading requirements for containers the same as for other shipping methods?
Vibration-sensitive cargo can be protected with vibration-isolating pallets. Additionally, rail freight operators are required to provide pictures before, during and after loading to ensure a smooth customs process.
What is the maximum payload of a container?
The payload per container is currently standard, similar to a shipping container as we are using the ISO standard 40ft. container
Can be 20 feet. Can containers be shipped by rail?
TJ chinafreight recommends 40 feet. Containers transported by rail, as entire rail cars, must be booked with the operator. A rail car fits a 40 ft. container. Possibility to load 2 x 20 feet. Containers onto a railcar; however, railcar operators tend to unload containers at the terminal and wait for an additional 20 feet to maximize the available rail freight space.
Why are passenger trains faster than freight trains?
The most common problem with passenger trains is that they carry much less weight than freight trains. There are more reasons for you to understand:
Passenger trains are limited to 5-10 mph faster than freight trains.
The traction force of passenger trains is much higher than that of freight trains. This gives passenger trains the huge advantage of being fast.
Freight trains usually carry a lot of cargo. Conversely, passenger trains are usually empty and sometimes filled with people and luggage, which makes them lighter than freight trains.
Dispatchers can accelerate passenger trains faster than freight trains (with some exceptions).
What are the most common cargoes transported by rail?
You can ship anything from coal to the products that make your home your home by rail. Trains can transport almost anything you want. The goods you can transport by rail are-
Building materials: wood, pipes, steel bars, paper, bricks, metal coils, etc.
Food: packaged food, chocolate, agricultural products, frozen food, canned food, etc.
Liquids: biodiesel, petroleum, liquefied petroleum gas, ethanol, etc.
Household items: shoes, packages, boxes, appliances, electronics, clothing, furniture, etc.
Bulky items: wind turbine blades, transformers, military vehicles, etc.
Small objects: sand, flour, soda ash, etc.
Vehicles: trucks, SUVs, cars, auto parts, etc.
Others: Fibers, minerals, paper, feed products, paints, irrigation equipment, solar panels, etc.
Partner with you for all your rail freight needs.
Our goal is to work with you to understand your current and future logistics challenges. Knowing your plans and anticipating your future needs will allow the team to provide seamless door-to-door transportation for your rail freight needs. Reliable, safe and cost-effective rail freight services can transform your logistics operations. During these uncertain times due to the impact of the coronavirus around the world, please get in touch below if we can help!”
