By combining rail and sea transport, DB Cargo Eurasia is testing an alternative route from China to Finland to the current setup that sees trains passing the Buslovskaya-Vainikkala border between Russia and Finland.

The company - working with its partners DB Schenker, DB Cargo Russia, XIAN ITL, UTLC ERA, and Mann Lines - has organised a train set that arrived in the Port of Kaliningrad on 8 March.

A total of 42 FEUs was then transshipped onto Mann Lines' Dornbusch which on 10 March sailed out for Helsinki's Vuosarri where the vessel berthed three days later.

The total Xi'an-Helsinki transit time amounted to 16 days.

The service isn't a regular one, but can be arranged on an on-demand basis.

The shipment comprised clothing, furniture, fittings, personal protective equipment and medical disposable devices, car tyres, production equipment, and household appliances.

Photo: Helmut Ivers/Maritime Connector