Xiamen to launch more intl sea-rail routes in 2019

As of 2018, a total of 404 trains loaded with 7.05 billion worth of cargos have been dispatched from Xiamen to Europe. [Photo/xmnn.cn]

Xiamen plans to expand its international sea-rail combined transportation based on the booming China (Xiamen)-Europe trains, local media reported on Feb 21.

The freight collection scope of the Xiamen-Europe trains has been extended to Taiwan and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since last year and the Taiwan-Xiamen-Europe bulk cargo business was launched in 2018.

By the end of 2018, the Xiamen-Europe trains had delivered 225 containers worth $50 million by the sea-rail combined transportation.

In 2019 the city will launch more sea-rail combined routes, including the route transited in Xiamen from Japan to Europe.

In addition, based on the preferential policies in Xiamen as finished automobile and alcohol import and transit ports, Xiamen strives to stably run the return Xiamen-Europe trains laden with imported cargos in a stable frequency.

As the more stable operation of the trains from Xiamen to Europe, increasing numbers of European clients are choosing Xiamen-Europe trains to transport their cargos.

A spokesman for the Xiamen branch of German logistic company Logwin AG said that they are satisfied with Xiamen-Europe trains' quick speed and low cost.

Statistics from Xiamen Customs show that in 2018 the city dispatched 176 trains to European countries with 7,475 containers worth 3.79 billion yuan ($549 million).

According to Chen Lu, business manager of Xiamen International Railway Service Co in charge of Xiamen-Europe trains, they plan to send 214 trains to Europe in 2019, which means an average of one train in less than 1.5 days.

The China (Xiamen)-Europe trains have been put into service since 2015. Over the past three years, five international routes have been opened, covering 10 countries, including Germany, Kazakhstan and Russia. As of 2018, a total of 404 trains loaded with 7.05 billion worth of cargos have been dispatched from Xiamen to Europe.