China-Europe railway keeps global supply chain on track

Quantity, quality

As the number of freight trains steadily rises, more attention is being paid to improving efficiency and the quality of service.

Last month, China Railway Urumqi Group, which operates services in Xinjiang, adjusted the transportation plan for the China-Europe freight trains to provide holiday cover — including receiving and sorting cargo carriers — during the Spring Festival break so the trains could remain operational 24 hours a day.

The operator has improved cooperation with local customs authorities to employ digital services that allow trains to obtain faster customs clearance, improving efficiency and reducing the time freight trains wait at the border. As a result, the clearance time for outbound China-Europe freight trains at Alataw Pass has been reduced to five hours, the group said.

The moves have also promoted cooperation with railway authorities in neighboring Kazakhstan, improving tailored transportation arrangements and capacity.

Based on the operations and reloading capacities of stations in China and Kazakhstan, Alataw Pass has adjusted its working practices to sort different types of cargo and also arranged for delivery trucks to collect the goods when the trains arrive, according to Zhang Bin, an official at the station.

He also noted that the station has handled about 16 China-Europe freight trains every day recently.

Moreover, the customs department at Alataw Pass has set up a green channel for China-Europe freight trains to improve efficiency.

"We have closely cooperated with the railway operator to share information and improve service quality, boosting efficiency for the trains to be cleared by customs," said Dong Jianjiang, a customs official at Alataw Pass.

He added that the collaboration will allow more businesses to enjoy the benefits the service offers.