Multimodal transport and logistics provider C.H. Robinson has launched a new rail freight service on the New Silk Road, connecting China to the United Kingdom. The line services eight cities in China and eight cities in Europe, with the most western destination being Barking in the UK.

In China, the train services runs through the most important economic centres of Zhengzhou, Zushou, Wuhan, Yiwu, Xiamen, Shenzen, Guangzhou en Chongqing. It touches upon Melaszewicze in Poland, Hamburg and Duisburg in Germany, Milan in Italy, Tilburg in the Netherlands and Lyon en Paris in France, in addition to the UK destination. The total journey takes between 18-20 days.

Multimodality

“The new train connection is an addition to our air and ocean freight service, which offers our customers utmost flexibility. This enables us to halve the delivery time of ocean freight, and reduce the price of air freight”, said Mike Short, president Global Forwarding at the US-based company. C.H. Robinson claims to deliver a more sustainable service and more coverage, due to empty container pick-up, factory pick-ups, border processing services and distribution of good via other modalities within Europe. Options by train include block trains, single or multiple containers, LCL delivery and unconventional freight.