DB Schenker’s Trans-Eurasia Express network.
With the successful completion of a 10,000-km journey from China to Germany, DB Schenker is set to roll out scheduled transcontinental rail freight services.
The first container train carrying products for Fujitsu Siemens Computers has arrived in Hamburg, finishing the journey from Xiangtang in 17 days.
Following the trial, DB Schenker has announced that under the product name ‘Trans-Eurasia Express’, two container trains a week will initially serve to link China with Germany with a transit time less than 20 days.
The company’s CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said the regular rail services would offer an attractive alternative to slower ocean freight and more expensive air freight.
“Our endurance in pursuing this project is now paying off. Thanks to our cooperation with five other railways, including the Chinese and Russian railways, we are now able to open up an attractive and reliable new trade route for our customers between the markets in China and Central Europe,” he said.
Head of DB Schenker’s transportation and logistics division Norbert Bensel told reporters the rail services would offer international businesses a reliable freight option and a number of companies were already showing interest.
“Operating across the Eurasian Landbridge, the container trains are to link up Shanghai and Beijing with Hamburg, Nuremberg and Duisburg with a weekly regular service.
“With the introduction of the regular timetable and fixed departure time, this new link in our global network will enable us to offer a new level of quality in the trans-continental exchange of goods,” he said.