Transport Expertise Association

English publications…

Freight trains from Europe to China, a reality!

Posted on October 9, 2008 by Matthieu Desiderio

After the Deutsche Bahn (DB) launched its second experimentation of freight Trans-Siberian train, SNCF, the French national railway operator, committed to run in three years time freight over the 12,000 kilometres separating France and China.

In a recent meeting with Vladimir Iakounine, head of Russian railway company, Guillaume Pépy, head of SNCF, discussed the eventuality of operating freight trains on Russian lines. Guillaume Pépy said he wanted the SNCF to position onto the segment of textile goods and toys which requires to arrive rapidly on the European market.

SNCF has ensured that it would take 10 days to cover the 12,000 kilometres long distance going through China, Mongolia, Russia, Poland, Germany an France. To do so, two issues will have to be addressed. First, reaching agreements with railway companies of each of these countries. Second, overcoming the gauge differences among the various networks. However, Pépy said he was confident the SNCF will find wagons of which gauges are adaptable to every rail tracks. SNCF is already operating outside France and obtained in last years authorisation of running trains in Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg. Moreover, the buy-over of Import Transport Logistik early 2008 enables to move trains through Germany without necessarily having to deal with the DB.

Catching up with the DB will at the very least be a challenging task! In terms of partnerships, the DB is already one step ahead, since the Russian rail company would soon own about 5% of the DB capital following DB privatisation. But, on top of that, both experimentations the DB has run over the year are acknowledged to be a big hit. They have turned out to be so successful that the DB even brought forward the launch of regular services (starting in 2009). And clients awaiting for it are already numerous !

References

  • Article: Les trains de fret rouleront jusqu’en Chine, LeFigaro.fr, Oct. 7, 2008: here

References from the Transport Information Group

HH
Category: economics, energy, environment, freight, intermodal, logistics, mobility, projects, rail, transport