Kerry Logistics has launched its first rail and road multimodal freight service from Lanzhou, China to Islamabad, Pakistan, reinforcing South Asia’s overland transportation network.
The service, which is operated by Kerry Logistics’ member company Lanzhou Pacific Logistics Corporation Limited (LPL), is also expected to deepen trade cooperation along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
It is Kerry Logistics’ second international freight route between Lanzhou and South Asia, following the launch of a freight train service from Lanzhou to Kathmandu, Nepal.
Chris Collins discusses connectivity between ports and landside operations in a recent Port Technology technical paper
The Lanzhou to Islamabad service began operating on October 23, 2018, with a block train departing from Lanzhou and travelling 3,300 kilometres to the Kashgar Comprehensive Bonded Zone in Xinjiang.
Once the train arrived, goods were loaded onto trucks and transported 1,200 kilometres to Islamabad.
The journey was completed in just 13 days which, according to a statement from Kerry Logistics, is 15 days less than the conventional ocean-road journey would take.
Read more: CPEC: Q&A with Dr Ayesha Siddiqa
Edwardo Erni, Managing Director of China and North Asia for Kerry Logistics, said: “As we continue to expand our capabilities and implement our development blueprint of capturing the opportunities along the Belt and Road trade route, we are thrilled to launch this new service that offers a significantly time-saving option to our customers.
“Following the establishment of a new subsidiary in Pakistan in July 2018, this new service will help to better equip us to capitalise on the increasing trade activities between China and Pakistan facilitated by the CPEC.”
The new multimodal freight solution between Lanzhou and Islamabad is set to become a regular service in 2019.
Read more:
