Damco has launched its first block train service between China and France at an official ceremony in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The block train, which will be transporting goods for a global sporting goods retailer, is set to reduce transit time into Europe by around 20 days with an expected arrival date in France of 16 November.
Caroline Wu, CEO of Damco Greater China Area commented, “This is an important step towards expanding logistics support to the markets we serve across the regions.” She continued, “We are grateful to our customers for the trust they have put in us and look forward to providing them with a cost-effective, efficient and dependable service.”
In addition to providing the market with a secure, reliable, door-to-door (FCL, LCL) service, this intercontinental rail solution creates further opportunities for customers to elevate their supply chain operations by leveraging Damco’s global supply chain footprint and the range of products within its portfolio.
“While this development represents a significant milestone in Damco’s Rail product development, at a third of the cost of air freight, it can also contribute positively to improving cost efficiencies and supply chain agility for businesses.” commented Philippe Dunand, Global Account Director for Damco’s Lifestyle business.
Damco’s Head of Rail, Kasper Krog stated, “Our analyses show that the block train not only achieves reliable lead times, but also provides customers with improved cargo visibility through GPS tracking.” He continued, “Furthermore, because CO2 emissions from rail services are typically 12 times lower than that of air transport, with the block train, we are also able to offer a solution that is efficient, fixed timetable, cost-effective, transparent, and with comparatively lower impact on the environment.”
Source: Damco
