Austrian-based Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is strengthening its China-bound operations with the launch of a monthly container train from the Italian city of Mortara to Chengdu. It builds on a recent pilot and now regular service from Lugo to Taiyan, and reaffirms the company’s ‘strategy of internationalisation’.

RCG believes the new service will be the next step in its drive to exploit the ‘enormous potential’ for cargo transportation to and from Europe and the Far East. Starting from Mortara, south west of Milan, the train’s route takes it through Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and China. Industrial machinery and Italian tiles are among the goods aboard 34 containers,.

‘Internationalisation’

Andreas Matthä, CEO of the group’s parent company ÖBB, said: “We will further push the internationalisation in the upcoming years. In order to continue to lead the tune in the rail freight business, we will enhance the expansion in new markets. We will make the necessary means and resources available to ensure a smooth train handling and an even higher quality level of the Rail Cargo Group.”

The service brings together the combined efforts of RCG, fellow rail cargo operator Captrain and intermodal specialist RTSB, which has branches across Europe and the Far East. RCG says the 17-day journey across the Eurasian land bridge offers a ‘real alternative’ to the traditional container ship option. Plans are already being made to expand the service to two trains a month later next year.

Sophisticated

RCG has also welcomed a delegation of Chinese officials to its BILK terminal in Budapest, to mark the recent launch of its first container train from the Hungarian capital to Hunang Province, China. Lászlo Moscóczi, Deputy Secretary of State for Transport in Hungary, and He Baoxiang Vice Governor of Hunang Province and Erik Retger, Rail Cargo Board member were all present. The service also comprises a new daily service between Budapest and the Port of Piraeus in Greece.