Roundup: China-Europe freight train service draws applause from int'l logistics companies

The direct freight train service connecting China and Europe has drawn applause from participants at a gathering here of international logistics companies.

Senior executives of international logistics providers shared views on logistics within Europe and its links with Asia during the conference themed "Harbours 360", which was held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Duisburg, west Germany.

The freight train service connecting China and the European countries, officially known as "China Railway Express", "is a reliable logistic solution for the future, which has been acknowledged and accepted by the market," said Thomas Kargl, CEO of Far East Land Bridge, a Russian logistics provider.

"Our company expects to reach the freight volume of 200,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) with the Express this year, and plans to make it 350,000 TEU next year," he said.

Mamuka Baktadze, CEO of Georgian Railway, told Xinhua the Express helps increase trade volumes between the countries along the route. He said Georgia takes part in the building of Belt and Road, adding "We look forward to utilizing the opportunity to modernize our infrastructure and provide our clients better services."

Having witnessed the Express's developments in recent years, Erich Staake, President of Port of Duisburg, said the Express under the Belt and Road initiative is "changing the world of logistics and industrial activities".

"The first train from China's Chongqing to Duisburg five years ago took 19 days en route, now it's only 11 to 12 days with over 20 trains each week," he said, "We want to make Duisburg one hub of the (Belt and Road) initiative." Endit