The first container train dispatched from China by DB Schenker under a common consignment note has arrived in Germany. Once the procedure is introduced on regular services, says the company, it will be possible to assure the customer of a shorter journey time. Trains currently arriving in Duisburg from Chongqing in China’s hinterland require 18 days for the journey, which is half the time required when shipping freight by sea.

DB Schenker provided the service for a consumer electronics manufacturer that has been sending container trains for two years now from Chongqing along the 11,000 kms route through China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland to Germany.

DB Schenker and the rail operator YuXinOu (Chongqing) Logistics Co, had joint overall responsibility for the preparation and completion of this test. Together with Trans Eurasia Logistics GmbH, a joint venture between Deutsche Bahn and RZD, DB Schenker has been pushing for the introduction of a single consignment note for the entire journey and will now be one of the first companies able to use this procedure on this route.

“The shorter transit time that is now possible will give new impetus to the Eurasian Land Bridge and allows us to recommend ourselves to our customers as an innovative, strong and reliable partner,” says Dr. Karl-Friedrich Rausch, Member of the Management Board of DB Mobility Logistics AG responsible for the Transportation and Logistics Division.

On the test run from China to Europe, it has been possible to demonstrate how a common consignment note is designed to work, since the complete information required for the transit and receiver countries en route must also be included on the new common consignment note when it is issued in China. As a result, the examinations and supplementary data, which are currently required for the European sections of the route, in addition to the transcription of the consignment notes, will in future be eliminated. This means that time spent at border crossings can be significantly reduced, with a corresponding reduction in provision and transit times. This will benefit the entire sector and enhance rail’s competitiveness. The simplification of freight documents similar to the situation in air and ocean freight is one of the most important measures now being introduced to further reduce the journey time significantly between China and Europe. Until now, two separate consignment notes have been required for rail shipments of this kind. The simplification also opens up the possibility of using an electronic consignment note in future.