First container train from Guangzhou arrives in Ukraine
A new container train service was launched between China and Ukraine. It linked the Chinese city of Guangzhou and the Odesa region in Ukraine. Earlier, such connection was available only via the shipping lines.
The freight train with 50 containers from Guangzhou arrived at the Chornomorska freight station, a marshalling yard near Odesa, on Saturday, 19 June. Its 8,408-kilometre-long route ran via Mongolia and Russia while the travel time took 22 days. Due to the Pentecost holidays in Ukraine, the official meeting ceremony was held a little bit later, on 22 June.
“This train will help the Ukrainian entrepreneurs to receive goods from Guangdong and other southern provinces of China twice as fast as similar shipping by sea,” Hennadii Sorochynskyi, chairman of the Board of Directors of UNI-LAMAN GROUP, said at the event.
Parties concerned
The Guangzhou freight train was initiated by UNI-LAMAN GROUP, the Odesa-based freight forwarding company, in close cooperation with several Chinese companies. Among them are the Guangdong GW Railway Operator, which is part of the state corporation Guangdong GW Holdings Group, and CIMC-logistics that acts as local agents in China. Moreover, the container rail service was also supported by the regional authorities of both countries.
Future plans
Currently, all the partners are working together to reduce the travel time for the freight train between the Odesa region and the province of Guangdong and to increase its frequency. “By the year’s end, we plan to increase the number of the trains up to ten per month and make regular shipments from other provinces of China,” Hennadii Sorochynskyi shated his company’s plans.
DP World TIS Pivdennyi terminal
The Guangzhou train was handled at the DP World TIS terminal Pivdennyi terminal, a major container facility at the Port of Pivdennyi (former Yuzhny) that is jointly owned by DP World and TIS Group. “Our terminal was chosen to meet the train from China not by chance and thanks largely to the developed railway infrastructure,” Ihor Zhyhora, CEO of the DP World TIS Pivdennyi container terminal, noted.