Yichang and Laos linked by new freight route
2023-11-21 17:11:57
By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio
At 10 am on November 20, 1,430 tons of fertilizer products in 26 standard containers departed from Yichang East Railway Station. The cargo is set for Mohan Port in Yunnan province before arriving at its destination in Luang Prabang, Laos.
This was the first time for Yichang to launch a freight train to Laos, marking a new development in the city’s export channels.
This new 2,100-kilometer freight route begins in Yichang and crosses the Hunan and Yunnan provinces before reaching Luang Prabang, Laos. The journey takes an average of 12 days, less than half the time of the maritime route.
Prior to opening the route, most of Yichang's fertilizers were exported to Laos by a combination of sea and land. It took about 30 days to deliver the cargo due to being sent to Shanghai via the Yangtze River before it was able to be exported to Luang Prabang.
The operation of the new train route not only helps cut time, but also costs.
"The price of road logistics is very high, each container costs 13,000 yuan (US$1,821). Now it only takes 8,000 yuan, saving 5,000 yuan," said Ren Xiaojun, director of Yichang Logistics Industry Development Center.
Prior to opening the route, most of Yichang's fertilizers were exported to Laos by a combination of sea and land. It took about 30 days to deliver the cargo due to being sent to Shanghai via the Yangtze River before it was able to be exported to Luang Prabang.
The operation of the new train route not only helps cut time, but also costs.
"The price of road logistics is very high, each container costs 13,000 yuan (US$1,821). Now it only takes 8,000 yuan, saving 5,000 yuan," said Ren Xiaojun, director of Yichang Logistics Industry Development Center.
In the future, more products from Yichang and the surrounding area such as electromechanical products, biomedical products, agricultural products and car parts will make their way to Laos through this channel.
Since this year, Yichang has opened three rail-sea intermodal trains, i.e. Yichang-Qinzhou (for ASEAN), Yichang-Xiamen (for Europe, Japan and South Korea) and Yichang-Ningbo (all over the world). The city also opened the new river-rail-sea line via Yichang-Chongqing-Qinzhou. Together with the regular river-sea transportation channel and the China-Europe Express trains, they have become a convenient transportation hub.
Since this year, Yichang has opened three rail-sea intermodal trains, i.e. Yichang-Qinzhou (for ASEAN), Yichang-Xiamen (for Europe, Japan and South Korea) and Yichang-Ningbo (all over the world). The city also opened the new river-rail-sea line via Yichang-Chongqing-Qinzhou. Together with the regular river-sea transportation channel and the China-Europe Express trains, they have become a convenient transportation hub.
