On August 1, 2023, the inaugural container train from Tianjin to Inner Mongolia officially set off, marking the launch of the 'New Port - Suji' service. This new route is expected to reduce road transport and increase the proportion of railway transport, potentially decreasing the use of 66,000 vehicles and lowering overall costs by 15%.
Recently, a national conference for the China-Europe International Freight Train Alliance was held in Urumqi, announcing the official establishment of the alliance under the Belt and Road Initiative. The aim is to encourage the operational enterprises of the China-Europe Railway Express to settle in Xinjiang, facilitating resource and information sharing and optimizing operational efficiency.
The Port of Scheveningen, located in the northern suburbs of The Hague, Netherlands, is a well-equipped seaport. With a maximum draft of 4.8 meters, the port offers comprehensive services including ship repair and fuel supply, handling approximately 1 million tons of cargo annually. Its convenient proximity to a train station and airport makes it an important maritime hub for The Hague.
COSCO Shipping launched the "Wuhan-Xiamen-Europe" rail-sea intermodal train service, providing a more convenient and efficient European trade channel for enterprises in central China. This route, through port-shipping coordination, significantly shortens transportation time and reduces logistics costs, boosting economic development in Wuhan and surrounding areas. It also enhances COSCO Shipping's influence in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
NVIDIA unveiled Alpamayo, an autonomous driving AI platform, at CES. This platform empowers automakers to independently train models to handle complex road conditions. The first vehicle featuring this technology, developed in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, is slated to launch in the US in the first quarter of this year, followed by releases in Europe and Asia. This development signifies an accelerated adoption of autonomous driving technology.
In 2024, the number of maritime and railway intermodal trains operating on the New Western Land-Sea Corridor exceeded 2,000, a year-on-year increase of 16.8%, supporting regional economic development. Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group actively promotes the marine economy, leading to a significant increase in train transport demand. The goal is to operate 10,000 trains throughout the year, laying the foundation for facilitating a dual circulation market.
Since its inaugural run on October 30, the Shenman China-Europe Railway Express has established an efficient customs clearance model through collaboration with inspection and quarantine, customs, and railway departments, enhancing cargo circulation efficiency. The train operates weekly, delivering goods such as LCD televisions and automotive parts within a transit time of 15 to 18 days, facilitating smooth China-Europe trade and providing more development opportunities for businesses.
Facing the rapid development of the photovoltaic industry and supply chain challenges, Maersk's Sea-Rail Intermodal solution significantly reduces transportation costs and carbon emissions by optimizing transportation routes. It also provides a stable multi-point pickup process, helping companies achieve cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and sustainable development. The solution ensures safe and timely delivery through designated train services and flexible transportation rhythm adjustments, providing photovoltaic companies with a more competitive logistics option.
The launch of the Central Asia freight train signifies the transformation and upgrading of rail freight under the concept of open development. While it brings notable advantages in cost and time, rail freight still faces challenges in proactive openness, bidirectional engagement, and win-win scenarios. Railway departments need to enhance market research and actively broaden their customer base to adapt to the rapidly evolving international logistics market, ensuring the sustainable development of rail freight.
The launch of the first freight train from Xuzhou, Jiangsu to Central Asia highlights the railway industry's proactive approach to promoting the concept of 'open development' amid globalization. This service reduces transport time and costs, enhancing market competitiveness. However, rail freight still faces challenges such as insufficient proactive and mutual openness, and a lack of core competitiveness. There is a need for further improvement in services and market alignment to achieve comprehensive connectivity and promote long-term sustainable development.
