First freight train linking Da Nang to Europe to be launched this month
The Railways of Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company (Ratraco) has announced that a new freight link between the central city of Da Nang and Europe is expected to be launched in early March.
Hanoi (VNA) - The Railways of Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company(Ratraco) has announced that a new freight link between the central cityof Da Nang and Europe is expected to be launched in early March.
The train will carry a total of 23 containers of furniture products of well-known Swedish brand IKEA.
In its journey, the train will stop atDong Dang International Railway Station in order to get customs clearance so itcan move to Zhengzhou railway station before connecting to the Asia-Europetrain to reach its destination.
The IKEA products will be delivered to severalcities, including Liege of Belgium, Hamburg of Germany, and Melzo of Italy.
This comes after a freight train left Hanoi for Belgium forthe first time in July last year carrying containers of garments,textiles, and leather shoes. The route takes trains between Yen Vien RailwayStation in Hanoi and the Belgian city of Liege, where the containers are thenunloaded before being sent by truck to their final destination, the Dutch portcity of Rotterdam.
According to the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR), internationalrailway freight transport service posted positive growth last year and inJanuary.
Despite the complexities of COVID-19, nearly 1.16 milliontonnes of goods were transported by trains in 2021, surging 34 percent comparedto the same period last year.
Of note, the Dong Dang railway station of the northernborder province of Lang Son witnessed surges of 82 percent in the volume ofgoods and 117 percent in carriage frequency in the fourth quarter of last year.
The exports were primarily ore, sulphur, chemicals,electronics and garment-textile, among others./.
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The freight train from Vietnam to Europe is operating very well after putting into operation for more than four months, according to Tran The Hung, General Director of Rail Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company (Ratraco).
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A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
