In recent years, rail has established a new transportation route along the Silk Road to facilitate trade between China and Europe. Thanks to the railway, containers traveling between the two continents reach their destination much faster than if they were to travel by sea. To explain the advantages that railway transportation offers companies from a logistics perspective, Dirk Schneider, among other project managers of railway solutions at Rokko Global, uses the transportation route between Europe and China as an example.

The new Silk Road - also known as "One Belt, One Road" - is a massive infrastructure project driven by the Chinese government with the goal of establishing an intercontinental commercial and infrastructure network. From this idea, a railway network was born from China to Europe, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and Africa.

Why is this project relevant and what benefits does it provide to companies? After all, we already have maritime and air transport for trade with China.

• Faster transit times: Rail transportation typically takes about half the time of sea transportation, making it an attractive option for companies that need to get their goods to market quickly.
• Cost savings: Shipping by rail is generally less expensive than shipping by air and can offer significant cost savings over sea transportation, especially for large quantities of goods.
• Eco-friendliness: Rail transportation is a more environmentally friendly option compared to air or sea transport, as it produces less carbon emissions and is more energy-efficient.
• Reliability: The Silk Road project has invested in modernizing and upgrading the railway infrastructure, making rail transport more reliable and efficient than in the past.
• Increased trade opportunities: The expansion of the railway network along the Silk Road provides companies with new trade opportunities and access to new markets, which can increase their competitive advantage and help drive economic growth.

While in 2013 there were only 80 railway connections between Germany and China, in 2018 it reached 6000. China State Railway Group Co

Rail transportation to China is almost twice as fast as sea transportation.

In trade with China, the main advantage offered by rail transportation over sea transportation is speed.

Compared to sea transportation, the train takes between ten and fifteen days less to reach its destination. Shipping goods by sea typically takes about 28 days, although the waiting times in Shanghai and Hamburg have not been counted.

The transit time ranges between fifteen and twenty days; it all depends on which part of China to which part of Europe the goods are transported.

Efficient sea containers are used for rail transportation.

For rail transportation in trade with China, containers used in sea transportation are commonly employed. Companies can thus pack and store their goods just as if they were shipping by sea. In the case of sensitive goods, rail transportation is even excellent due to the more careful handling and many companies successfully use it for the transport of high-quality goods exported from China to Europe and vice versa.