THE HAGUE: October 24, 2018. Damco has begun a weekly block train service from China to Europe. The launch comes just twelve months after Damco established its first block train on the same route.

The block train is able to cover the 11,000 km journey from China to Europe in 18-20 days thanks to the prioritizations that rail operators are able to grant the train throughout its route.

Kasper Krog, head of Rail at Damco commented: “The continued rail growth is evident in the increased China-to-Europe freight train capacity of 69 percent the China Railway Corporation recorded for the first half of 2018. However, we also see continued rail growth due to the competitive advantages the service provides for our customers who demand speed, reliability and sustainability.”

“We have cleared the clutter, complexity and disruption that add time and costs to our customers’ supply chains and created a reliable, weekly end-to-end service that can also be incorporated as part of a multi modal solution where two or more different modes of transport are being used,” he continued.

Damco says its rail sector growth is inteded to add to A.P. Moller - Maersk’ goal of expanding in the non-ocean segment and connect and simplify supply chains.

Caroline Wu, area manager for Greater China at Damco added: “Approximately 4,3 percent of cargo between China and Northern Europe is moved via rail. So, although it is still a relatively small contributor to global trade, it is a service which is poised for growth.”