China - France Train 1

Ceva Logistics is developing more China-Europe rail services and has announced the launch of one from Jinhua to Dourges, in France.

The news comes as forwarders warn of congestion on overland routes.

The first train on the new route left Jinhua on 26 November with 22 full containers, arriving in Dourges 18 days later, having travelled via Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Germany on the 11,000 km journey. From Dourges, the containers will be sent on to Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.

Ceva said the new route would help alleviate the current strain on services.

“With global supply chains experiencing unprecedented demand for transport and logistics services, Ceva Logistics is committed to providing its existing and potential customers with  convenient and sustainable solutions,” said Xavier Bour, Ceva Logistics’ global ground and rail product leader.

“France is an important logistics hub on the European market and, with this new service, Ceva Logistics has tapped into the rail market for Eastern and Western Europe.

“Our next extension of our rail footprint will be the development of the Southern Europe market.”

Ceva added that, compared with its China-Europe truck service, launched in 2019, the block train cuts emissions by up to 67%.

Last year, figures provided by DSV on its China-Europe road service revealed prices 40% cheaper than air, but the road service had emissions some 2.5 times those of rail and eight times as much as sea freight.

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