[photopress:logistics_Gernman_train_to_Berlin.jpg,full,alignright]The experiments for this have been going on for some time and trains have been running on a regular schedule from China to Germany, but only once or twice a month.
Die Welt reported, citing Manfred Michel of China United International Railway Container Transport (CUIRC), the company operating the trains states that Deutsche Bahn will open a direct cargo train link between China and Germany within three months. As Deutsche Bahn owns an 8% stake in CUIRC so we can take it that is an authoritative statement.[photopress:logistics_left_db_train_driver.jpg,full,alignleft]
The trains will take 15 days to travel the 9,850 km between Berlin and Beijing. Air cargo — more expensive and liable to increase — takes two to three days between Germany and China, while sea freight takes around 35 days.
Norbert Bensel, head of Deutsche Bahn’s logistic operations said, ‘The cargo trains can’t compete with sea freight, but for express goods or oversize volumes they do make sense.’
The German rail operator is set to be partially privatized by the end of the year.
It is in talks with Russian railways RZD to take stakes in each other. This will be helpful because is RZD is Deutsche Bahn’s main partner for the inter-continental connection between China and Germany.
More on another side of rail development in China in the China Economic Review under Niu Yue, Niu Yue then scroll down to A through train casualty.
Source: Forbes
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