Rail freight as an alternative to sea and air freight on the Asia-Europe route
Ziegler is expanding its rail freight services on the China-Europe route. It has launched a new service connecting the Asian country to a transportation hub in Belgium.
This new service offers a valuable alternative to sea and air transportation on this popular route. It is called Consol Box and has the following features:
- the service is a combined cargo route from China to Belgium;
- upon arrival by rail in Belgian Velkenradt, cargo is distributed throughout Europe;
- the company guarantees delivery to Belgium within 17-18 days;
- transportation is carried out in two formats – full (FCL) or partially (LCL) loaded containers.
Launching the service is part of Ziegler’s strategy to expand its business in Asia. The company plans to extend its range of services to Japan, Thailand, South Korea and other countries.
Route features
The new route is a consolidated one. It involves delivering cargo sent from various hubs to China. Air, road and sea transport are used for this purpose. All shipments are then collected and sent by rail to Europe. In Belgium, they are distributed via Ziegler’s extensive network of offices. In addition to transportation, the company provides warehousing and customs services in the UK, Germany and France.
The launch of the service is driven by the growing demand for freight transportation from Asia to Europe. Customers appreciate the following combination of factors:
- relatively fast delivery;
- cost-effective;
- reduced CO₂ emissions compared to air transportation.
According to Ziegler, rail transport generates 95% fewer harmful emissions than air transport.
The Consol Box service also provides customers with convenient GPS tracking tools for their shipments. Users can also reserve space for their containers on trains. Ziegler is responsible for collecting goods from a single hub throughout China and handling customs clearance.
Route development efforts
The China-Europe route remains one of the most popular due to strong trade between the regions. Asian suppliers are looking to expand their presence in international markets by investing in logistics infrastructure. One example is the agreement between China and Turkey to modernise Turkish railways. As part of this agreement, China is investing US$60 billion in Turkish infrastructure to ensure the efficient transportation of goods to Europe.
Plans include expanding the railway network, electrifying it, and constructing a bridge over the Bosphorus in Istanbul. A high-speed line between Istanbul and Ankara is also planned.
