A batch of “Hunan-Guangdong-Africa Express” rail-sea intermodal trains pulled out of the CRRC Zhuzhou Logistics Park and the station of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration Hunan Division on July 2, 2024. Loaded with auto parts, silicon dioxide, and large-sized mechanical equipment, these trains were scheduled to arrive at the Guangzhou Nansha Port in 20 hours. Then, the goods were to be transferred by sea to their destinations, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and African countries.
This departure marked the launch of the “Hunan-Guangdong-Africa Express” rail-sea intermodal train service with fixed loading and unloading stations for the whole journey.
The “Hunan-Guangdong-Africa Express” train service features fixed loading and unloading stations, as well as a regularly scheduled departure time—18:00 and 24:00 every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Each freight train has at least 41 carriages. The trains are scheduled to arrive at the Guangzhou Nansha Port South Station, Shenzhen Xili Railway Station, and Shenzhen Pinghu South Railway Station within 20 hours, without stopovers during their journeys. From there, the goods are shipped to the Ho Chi Minh Port in Vietnam or Port Swettenham in Malaysia in 11 days; to the Jakarta Port of Indonesia in 12 days; to Mombasa in Kenya in 25 or 26 days; and, to the Middle East and the base ports in Europe within 20 and 40 days respectively. With this service, the transportation efficiency has been remarkably improved.
With Zhuzhou as a major assembly center, the “Hunan-Guangdong-Africa Express” train service links Hengyang and Chenzhou, and covers other cities and prefectures in Hunan as well as neighboring provinces. The service mainly delivers goods for foreign trade, connecting with the international maritime transportation routes to Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and America. The service also provides customs clearance, delivery, and overseas warehouse arrangements, ensuring logistical support through to the “last kilometer”.
The Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal train service was launched on September 15, 2021. Since then, more than 1,000 train trips have operated, including special trains for exported mechanical equipment, porcelain products from Liling in Zhuzhou, and vehicles and auto parts, as well as imported Corning glass products.
This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Pang Yuehui
Chinese source: hunantoday
