Media

China bound train is ‘the future’ of freight

10 April 2017

10 April 2017

Responding to the departure today of the first ever UK to China export train, Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail Manager said:

“This is modern rail freight at its best. Rail is a crucial part of the logistics supply chain and is well placed to offer long distance traffic both internationally and in the UK, as this story shows. Long distance rail freight is cheaper and less environmentally damaging than air freight and faster than sea freight. We hope to see more trains of this kind in the future.”

ENDS

For further information please contact Alice Ridley on 020 7566 6495 / 07984 773 468 or alice.ridley@bettertransport.org.uk

Notes to Editors
 

  1. The train will make the 7,500 mile, three-week-long journey from DP Cargo’s World London Gateway rail terminal in South Essex to Yiwu in the Zhe Jiang province in eastern China. Products on board include soft drinks, vitamin and pharmaceutical products, baby products and whiskey. This inaugural export train bound for China departed just under three months after the first ever import train from China arrived in the UK. The service is part of China’s One Belt, One Road programme – reviving the ancient Silk Road trading routes to the West.
  2. Campaign for Better Transport is the UK’s leading authority on sustainable transport. We champion transport solutions that improve people’s lives and reduce environmental damage. Our campaigns push innovative, practical policies at local and national levels. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929).

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