Poland-China train brings opportunities to apple suppliers
According to Forbes.com, key improvements in route options, performance, and customs protocols, has set trans-continental rail transport for a renaissance. If the current trend continues, before long nearly every province in China is likely to have at least one Europe-bound train.
The first trains from Europe to China started back in 2008 from Hamburg, Germany to Xiangtan, China, but this first service was considered too slow by many to gain market appeal. The trains would often only depart once full, sometimes causing delays of up to a day. According to Konrad Godlewski from DHL, "The real change happened in 2013 with the Chengdu-Lodz train that opened. It was like a breakthrough. They published their departure time and had a direct line. That’s how we convinced the customers and the markets.”
Now, with these new standards, most China-Europe direct trains are now making the journey in under two weeks each way.
Steve Huang from CEO of East Asian operations for DHL admits that there are limits to what the trans-continental rail lines can achieve, “In terms of price rail can never compete with ocean,” he said. “In terms of transit time rail will never catch up with air freight. So it’s an option in between, in terms of transit time and transportation cost.”
For more information:
Jakub Krawczyk
Appolonia
Tel: +48 78 5342930+48 78 5342930
Email: jakub.krawczyk@appolonia.pl
www.appolonia.pl