MILAN, July 8 (Class Editori) - Within autumn, Serbia will be able to rely on a regular rail connection with China. The notification has been disclosed by the General Director of Metrans, Martin Koubek. In the meantime, a train which transports electrolytic copper has departed from Belgrade to reach Wuhan. The cargo left the Serbian capital on last June 22, and it should arrive in the Chinese metropolis this week, at the end of the first journey to the west between the two cities. The cargo has traveled to the east, passing through Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan.
Already in the last months, another delivery took place, but this time in the opposite direction. The journey was related to the Chinese answer to the COVID-19 health emergency, with a cargo of face masks and health equipment. The Chinese government has made this connection possible, in the context of the supporting initiatives to the countries which subsequently had to face the pandemic.
Now the aim is trying to make rail connections stable, with a collaboration between Metrans and DBO Bahnoperator. Rail logistics represents an important service because it ensures more economical and environment-friendly solutions, compared to air transport.
This service of block train from China to Europe has guaranteed a reduction of 4,500 tons of CO² emissions compared to air transport. In this context, the Balkan country is becoming one of the Bealt & Road Initiative nodes.
Ukraine is one of the node countries, also to reduce the journey times compared to the traditional route which crosses Poland and Kazakhstan, even though this is still a central point. The second turning point will be the Belgrade-Budapest high-speed line which will be ready by 2023 and should contribute to significantly increase the connections between Serbia and Hungary, apart from being considered as one of the BRI symbols.
According to what has been released by China State Railway Group in May, the number of freight trains China-Europe has achieved a new maximum of 1,033 with an increase by 43% compared to last year. A record amount of 93,000 corresponding TEU has been carried by trains with an increase by 48% compared to the previous year. The number of departing trains has increased by 47% year on year by reaching a number of 556 last month, meanwhile the number of returning trains has increased by 39% up to 477.
(Source:Class Editori)
Notice: No person, organization and/or company shall disseminate or broadcast the above article on Xinhua Silk Road website without prior permission by Xinhua Silk Road.
A single purchase
