EU-CN rail container transport v COVID-19

According to United Transport and Logistic Company Eurasian Railway Alliance (UTLC ERA), Eurasian rail container traffic is returning to normal.

In January-February, there was a 12% year-on-year increase in Europe-China volumes transported by the company, including 27.4k laden TEUs (+22% yoy) heading to Europe and 12.3k laden TEUs (+63% yoy) carried in the opposite direction.

No empty containers were sent back to China.

More than 550 UTLC ERA-operated container trains have travelled on the EU-CN route since 2020's start.

Since end-February/beginning-March, the number of bookings has been on the increase again, the company reports.

"Despite such adverse conditions, railways continue to link economies, countries and businesses in a safe and sound manner, as they have always done. UTLC ERA container train services operate stably and smoothly: transit speed remains at the 1,100 km per day level, trains cover the distance from China to Europe in less than 5 days. Cargo operations and making up of trains at near-border crossing points proceeds in the 'business-as-usual' way, both at the Chinese and European sides," UTLC ERA wrote in a press release.