CEVA Logistics has announced the implementation of block trains, a multimodal solution from China to European ports, as it continues to expand its range of ground and rail services from China to Europe. It announced a new train-ferry service from Xi’an, China, to Immingham, UK, as well as an offering on the company’s existing route from Xi’an to the Mukran (Sassnitz) port in Germany.
CEVA Logistics’ weekly multimodal train-ferry service from Xi’an to Immingham via Kaliningrad, Russia, will provide additional freight capacity for shippers amid unprecedented demand for transport and logistics services. The new route’s pilot shipment to Immingham left Xi’an by block train on March 18, going to Kaliningrad, where the cargo was reloaded the same day onto a ferry that arrived in Immingham on April 6. The pilot shipment for the new regular connection delivered 25 containers, including e-commerce goods. More trials will follow in May, with regular service starting by early June. According to CEVA, its aim for port-to-port delivery times is 18-20 days, with door-to-door delivery times not exceeding 25 days.
CEVA Logistics also upgraded its express block train solution from Xi’an to Mukran. Since April 1, the existing regular connection to Duisburg, Germany, has also been operating a service every Thursday. In addition, CEVA will begin operating an additional regular block train on June 1 from Xi’an to Duisburg via Malaszewicze, Poland, with a port-to-port delivery time of 15 days.
CEVA Logistics continues to develop additional block train connections to expand regular China to Europe connections, including Spain, Italy and France. It has dispatched more than 50 block trains from the port since May 2020.
Says Xavier Bour, Global Ground and Rail Product Leader, CEVA Logistics, said, “CEVA Logistics remains committed to developing sustainable and reliable transport solutions with our rail products — along the Silk Road in particular. The Suez Canal crisis has highlighted the risks associated with single-mode, single-route transport, and our recent developments of more block trains, new routings and premium services are available, offering responsive logistics solutions to our customers and supporting them in achieving secure and cost-effective supply chains.”
Source: CEVA Logistics
