Supply chains will probably survive Germany’s new China strategy
ANALYSIS‘We need to release ourselves from the cheap Chinese supply chains’. ‘We could be moving to a new Cold War era’. ‘We need to be sensible and seize economic possibilities with China’. These contrasting viewpoints...Read more
Chinese New Year aftermath; why it will be different this year
It is well known that Chinese New Year, the biggest festivity of the year in the country, creates a certain level of turbulence in the supply chain. This year however, it is coupled with an...Read more
RailFreight Summit 2023: fresh outlook, registrations open
Registrations for the RailFreight Summit 2023 are now open. Do you have something to do with rail and with Poland? Then you will want to be at this event, where hundreds of rail professionals gather...Read more
DB Cargo Eurasia launches new regular Xi’an-Budapest service
DB Cargo Eurasia launched a new service between Xi’an and Budapest. The first trip between the two destinations already took place. The train departed from Xi’an in late December and reached Budapest in 15 days....Read more
China supplies Pakistan with 70 freight wagons after friction resolves
State-owned Pakistan Railways received 70 new freight wagons supplied by China. The state-of-the-art wagons arrived in Karachi on Monday, 16 January. This is the first batch of China-supplied wagons this year, as Pakistan Railways expect...Read more
Silk Road traffic grew in 2022: here’s how the figures developed
In 2022, traffic volumes between China and Europe reached a new milestone despite what has probably been one of the most volatile years in Eurasian transport. According to figures released by the China National Railway...Read more
2022: a challenging, unstable, yet fruitful year for rail freight
Year end interviewAs 31 December approaches, and 2023 is peeking at us behind the New Year’s drop curtain, conversations at work, stores or even bars always entail a long sigh followed by the partially sad and partially...Read more
New Year’s resolution: China relaxes pandemic rules causing joy to Eurasian rail
From 8 January 2023, China will no longer implement quarantine and infectious disease management measures for the entry of personnel and goods into the country. After almost three years of strict measures, the government has...Read more
Ease of COVID rules in China good news for New Silk Road
China has announced a nationwide ease of the strict COVID policy for the first time in three years. What does this policy shift mean for the rail freight industry? What impact have lockdowns had on...Read more
First stone for second track railway line to Alashankou, China
The railway line between Alashankou and Jinghe in China is to have a second track. On 30 November, the foundation stone was laid, lauding the official start of construction. The second track means a significant...Read more
Malaszewicze terminal getting ready to handle heavier trains
Capacity of the Polish Malaszewicze and Biała Podlaska terminals, both near the border with Belarus, will be extended with 13 additional tracks. Three new tracks will be build in Małaszewicze, while Biała Podlaska will be...Read more
Europe pours billions into Serbian Belgrade-Niš line as TEN-T extends
The European Investment Bank (EIB) approved a budget of 1,1 billion euros for modernising the Belgrade-Niš railway line in Serbia. The investment will contribute to the extension of the core TEN-T network in the country...Read more
Maersk: “Agility key to happy customers and tapping new Eurasian markets”
European Silk Road Summit 2022As one of the major global shipping players, Maersk has a significant share of the Eurasian rail market. The company needed to adjust its strategy in 2022 because of geopolitical challenges. However, with the mindset...Read more
6,000 China-Europe trains via Khorgos mark important milestone
On Monday, 8 November, a train leaving the Khorgos dry port in Kazakhastan marked the 6,000 train trip through this border point in 2022. The milestone was reached more than a month earlier than last...Read more
New Silk Road record: Xi’an-Duisburg in 10 days with fixed timetable
A record transit time was achieved for a train journey from Xi’an in China to Duisburg in Germany. The distance was covered in ten days, thanks to the newly established fixed timetable on the route....Read more
European Silk Road Summit 2022: here’s what you should expect
EVENTThe time for the flagship RailFreight event is almost here. The European Silk Road Summit 2022 kicks off on 7 and 8 December in Duisburg, a major Eurasian rail hub that makes this year’s edition...Read more
‘What do European companies need to return to the Silk Road?’
VIDEOThe New Silk Road is still growing, despite a slowdown due to the war in Ukraine. There are strong trends regarding new commodities and traffic between China and Russia is on the rise. However, European...Read more
New Silk Road for electric cars mostly boosts China export
With the green light for electric vehicles on rails in China, the New Silk Road seems to experience a boom in cars on the rails. But for now, it is mostly electric cars from China...Read more
A 3rd railway port between China and Kazakhstan: where is it?
A third cross-border railway port will be constructed between China and Kazakhstan. The facility will be situated between the Baktu port in Tacheng, Xinjiang and Abai Oblast in Kazakhstan, north of the two existing rail...Read more