CEVA Logistics is expanding its rail freight services between China and Europe and announced the launch of a new route from Jinhua to Dourges in France.

The first train left Jinhua on 26 November with 22 full containers, and arrived in Dourges after 18 days, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, and Germany on the 11,000 kilometre journey. From Dourges, the shipments will be transported to Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.

The logistics provider said the new service would help ease the current strain on services given the unprecedented demand, leveraging on its rail and multimodal solutions together with parent company and ocean carrier CMA CGM.

“France is an important logistics hub on the European market and with this new service, CEVA Logistics has tapped into the rail market for Eastern and Western Europe,” said Xavier Bour, CEVA Logistics’ global ground and rail product leader

“Our next extension of our rail footprint will be the development of the southern Europe market,” Bour added.

The company also noted that, compared with the China-Europe trucking service, the block train reduces emissions by up to 67 percent.