Renewed calls for improved China / Europe rail infrastructure

The rising number of rail freight services linking China and Europe has led to fresh calls for investment in infrastructure along key routes.

A freight train leaves Shenyang, Liaoning Province, for Duisburg, Germany on September 9, 2017. [File photo: VCG]

That's according to specialist publication JOC.com, who reported that the average journey from China to Germany by rail in 2014 took 11 days - that figure is now 17 days.

Previously, the publication had revealed that a Chinese infrastructure provider had called for new rail corridors in Europe to help provide capacity for freight services to China.

David Smrkovsky, who is the head of logistics firm JUSDA had commented:

"There are current bottlenecks that include trains having to wait up to five days at the gateway of Malazewitch in Poland, or three days in Manzouhli in Mongolia, but this is strictly a question of infrastructure upgrades."

The suggestion came as congestion on the primary rail routes between China and Europe is starting to slow journey times, particularly between Belarus and Poland.

Investment in the rail networks linking China and Europe is, however, already ongoing.

Indeed, a funding boost in Belarus as part of President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative has been credited with helping to ease congestion on key freight routes.

Apparently, the network of tracks across Belarus has received a boost of more than $2.5 billion since 2010.

With the upgrade in place, plans are afoot to double the freight traffic through the country between now and 2020.