Suzhou dispatches first China-Europe cargo train with rapid clearance services

A cargo train benefiting from the rapid clearance model for railway services recently departed from Suzhou in East China's Jiangsu province for St. Petersburg in Russia, local media outlets reported.

It was the first China-Europe cargo train departing from Suzhou to follow the railway rapid clearance service. The train was loaded with 41 TEU containers full of small household appliances and textile clothing from the Yangtze River Delta region.

The rapid clearance service was developed by the General Administration of Customs specifically for China-Europe freight trains. By optimizing the business process and regulatory model, the service has made data connectivity among customs, railway administration, and enterprises possible and helped cut clearance costs.

"Custom clearance time can be reduced by 24 hours, shortening the overall operation time by one to two days and saving more than 200 yuan ($29.88) per TEU," said Zhang Qilin, manager of a Suzhou international logistics company.

Statistics from Suzhou International Freight Train Co show that from January to May 2022, Suzhou has operated 138 China-Europe freight trains, a 0.78-percent increase year on year. A total of 6,802 40-foot containers loaded with 118,100 metric tons of cargo were shipped, with total cargo weight increasing by 47.99 percent year on year.