Rail Cargo
20. June 2024

Yusen Logistics Launches the Rail Transport Service Connecting Hanoi and Europe

 

Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd. (President: Hiroyuki Okamoto) has started to provide the rail transport service from Hanoi, Vietnam to Europe utilizing freight trains between China and Vietnam, enhancing cross-border transport services which connect ASEAN countries and Europe.

Freight trains linking China and Vietnam are regularly operated, offering solutions for stable mass transport in response to rapidly growing transport demands. Their new rail transport service is one of the few solutions that utilize railways between ASEAN countries and Europe. Shipments are transported from Hanoi, Vietnam, to Chongqing, China, by China-Vietnam freight trains, then transferred to the China-Europe Railway Express, which connects China and Europe, with cargoes delivered across Europe. They arrange cargo collection, vanning operations at their own CFS, import/export customs clearance, and final mile delivery. Additionally, shipment status can be updated in real-time with their end-to-end service. Furthermore, they are the only Japanese freight forwarder with a large logistics center by the terminal station in Duisburg, Germany, where they handle devanning operations, cross-docking, and delivery throughout Europe. Prior to the launch of the service, they arranged trial shipments to Germany in March. Having achieved stable, high-quality transport, they have been providing their railway transport services to customers.

Cross-border transport utilizing railways is not only a BCP measure in the supply chain but also optimizes lead time and offers a green solution by significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Due to the Red Sea crisis, ocean transport from Asia to Europe now requires extended lead times, along with a shortage of shipping containers and tight space resulting from increased cargo demand out of Asia. This situation continues to disrupt ocean freight, causing a sharp rise in shipping costs. With the international rail transport option, lead time is shortened by approximately 18 days⁽*¹⁾ compared to the Cape route, and GHG emissions are reduced by approximately 50%⁽*²⁾ compared to ocean transport via the detour route.

In 2023, they began providing rail transport services to Europe utilizing the China-Laos Railway. To respond to the further growth in transport demand between Europe and ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia, they aim to continue expanding intermodal transport services with international railways. In Vietnam, in addition to their brand-new service from Hanoi, they are also in the process of verifying an international rail transport service from Ho Chi Minh City.


Original article
Image source:yusen-logistics.com