DB Cargo intends to increase container traffic between Europe and China in the coming years. The German rail freight operator has set a goal of carrying 100,000 TEU on the New Silk Road in 2020.

DB Cargo has been operating rail freight services between Europe and China for almost eleven years. This period showed good dynamics in container volumes. Therefore, the German company has set a new goal for future growth. “DB Cargo has recently increased transport volumes to around 85,000 general-purpose containers per year (in TEU) and we want to break the 100,000 TEU barrier in 2020”, said Carsten Hinne, the company’s senior vice president of Chinese corridor development. According to him, the Eurasian corridor is one of the world’s most interesting globalisation projects and it has a lot to offer for the rail sector.

First train from China

The pilot container train departed from the Chinese city of Xiangtan in Hunan province in the second half of September 2008. After a 17-day journey, it arrived in Hamburg on 6 October 2008. On its way from China to Europe, the train crossed the territory of Russia, Belarus and Poland. Later, this became the main route to transport containers between the continents. Afterwards, alternative connections via Kazakhstan and Mongolia were opened.

The first container train was organised by Trans-Eurasia Logistics, a joint venture of  DB Cargo and Russian Railways (RZD). In 2018 the Russian partner sold its share to DB Cargo. Thus, Trans-Eurasia Logistics became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Geman railway operator. Therefore, this company was renamed DB Cargo Eurasia.