China-Europe freight train an alternative to maritime transportation

The China-Europe freight train service is a very good alternative solution for logistics compared with cheap, yet time-consuming, maritime transport, Akos Kovacs, the CEO of Hungary's Ekol Logistics, told Xinhua news agency in a recent interview.

The company plays an important role in coordinating cargos transported to Hungary via the freight trains, serving as customs operators and distributor of the goods. Two freight trains from China reached Budapest in April and May, and the third train, departing from Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, is expected to arrive in Budapest at the end of June.

The arrival of the trains symbolizes the successful synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative and Hungary’s plan of turning itself into a collection and distribution center of Chinese commodities in Europe, he said.

“We are happy to play a part in connecting Hungary with the Belt and Road”, Kovacs said.

Customers from automobile, electronics or fashion industry need faster transportation, so the freight train service becomes the most economical way of transport, if the time cost is considered, he added.

Statistics show that more than 1,700 freight trains travelled between China and Europe in 2016, covering a total of more than 17 million kilometers.