China-Europe block trains
- 6 years ago
Hamburg, Germany - the greatest rail port in Europe. Hundreds of thousands of trains come in and out of its 5 major terminals every year. But the proposal of a block train running from China directly to Hamburg shocked even the most seasoned veterans of the railroad industry.
"Three year ago I could not imagine to connect Germany and China with rail cars."
The China-Europe block train travels along the longest rail route in the world. It runs over 10,000 kilometers from China all the way to the heart of Europe, transporting commodities and connecting people, forming a direct link between the East and the West. This is the new Silk Road on Rails. It started as a train that ran just once a month to see whether or not the old Silk Road could be brought to modern times.
Soon, China's railway industry realized that its mission was impossible without support from partners.
"I like Hamburg very much, the people is helpful and friendly."
This new trans-Eurasia train runs through 6 countries, in 12 days over 10,000 kilometers - would it run on schedule and be able to deliver its cargo safely?
"The main challenge every day is to be in time."
Fortunately, Terminal Manager Mr. Reese has the help of a new generation on the China train team to make sure all the containers to be shipped to China are safe, clear and all is running on schedule.
"On the document I write everything. I write the track ID the LE ID, how long."
Once the containers get into the terminal, it is up to 21 year-old Samir to load them onto the train and ensure they are ready departure in just a few hours.
"I take the containers from the train and the day put or from the LKVs and to stay to be later, the train goes to China."
The block train is running on schedule. But a train running once a month was only the start of a project that would make railway history.
"Frist, we had monthly train, and then it is weekly. Now we have 6 trains per week. The biggest challenge is to find more and more cargos from Europe and also in China."
So they reached out to for help. The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce saw the potential in this new opportunity and leapt at the chance to come on board.
"This is a very interesting point for people in Hamburg, because they are traders, they know what foreign trade means, they are very closely related to silk road. It is a new opportunity to transport goods between Hamburg on one hand, Europe and on the other hand from China."
"In Hamburg this is the best job. Because we are in the logistic (industry). In Hamburg logistic (business) is very big."
"I can find fresh Asian food in market in Germany, and enjoy fresh German beer in China."
"I might be too old to learn Chinese. It seems very difficult. But in a few years, I plan to visit China and maybe to visit the train on the other side."
"Three year ago I could not imagine to connect Germany and China with rail cars."
The China-Europe block train travels along the longest rail route in the world. It runs over 10,000 kilometers from China all the way to the heart of Europe, transporting commodities and connecting people, forming a direct link between the East and the West. This is the new Silk Road on Rails. It started as a train that ran just once a month to see whether or not the old Silk Road could be brought to modern times.
Soon, China's railway industry realized that its mission was impossible without support from partners.
"I like Hamburg very much, the people is helpful and friendly."
This new trans-Eurasia train runs through 6 countries, in 12 days over 10,000 kilometers - would it run on schedule and be able to deliver its cargo safely?
"The main challenge every day is to be in time."
Fortunately, Terminal Manager Mr. Reese has the help of a new generation on the China train team to make sure all the containers to be shipped to China are safe, clear and all is running on schedule.
"On the document I write everything. I write the track ID the LE ID, how long."
Once the containers get into the terminal, it is up to 21 year-old Samir to load them onto the train and ensure they are ready departure in just a few hours.
"I take the containers from the train and the day put or from the LKVs and to stay to be later, the train goes to China."
The block train is running on schedule. But a train running once a month was only the start of a project that would make railway history.
"Frist, we had monthly train, and then it is weekly. Now we have 6 trains per week. The biggest challenge is to find more and more cargos from Europe and also in China."
So they reached out to for help. The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce saw the potential in this new opportunity and leapt at the chance to come on board.
"This is a very interesting point for people in Hamburg, because they are traders, they know what foreign trade means, they are very closely related to silk road. It is a new opportunity to transport goods between Hamburg on one hand, Europe and on the other hand from China."
"In Hamburg this is the best job. Because we are in the logistic (industry). In Hamburg logistic (business) is very big."
"I can find fresh Asian food in market in Germany, and enjoy fresh German beer in China."
"I might be too old to learn Chinese. It seems very difficult. But in a few years, I plan to visit China and maybe to visit the train on the other side."