Greencarrier Freight Services International has launched a new service for containerised freight to transport goods all the way from China, through Russia and Belarus, to Sweden by rail.

Previously, the goods were cross-docked at the company's warehouse in Karpin, just outside of Warsaw in Poland, before being taken onwards by road.

But with the new service, containers are reloaded onto rail cars in Hamburg for Scandinavia and the company's new hub in Hallsberg in Sweden. The lead time from Hamburg to Hallsberg is only a few days.

The company said that it is currently only handling full container loads (FCL) via its set-up in Hamburg. However, it is looking into the viability of offering this service for less-than-container loads (LCL) as well.

The company said that it is offering this service because of the "big increase" in demand for rail freight between Asia and Europe. Customer expectation has also changed as they "want to use a freight forwarder that transports the goods in a sustainable way."

"In 2016, 1,800 block trains transported goods between China and Europe, and by 2020, the expectations are 5,000," a statement from the company added.

Source:shippingonline.cn