China announces it is to start freight services to the UK by rail. The trains which will originate in Yiwu South East China will take 14 days to reach the UK. It provides a welcome alternative to air freight and shipping, costing less than air and quicker than shipping and filling a very useful gap in the market. It is likely to be of particular interest to exporters as traditionally there is less traffic going to China and costs are cheaper.
There are some concerns as the trains have to cross a number of countries including Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus before arriving in Western Europe and is therefore vunerable to political upheavals. The service has however been running to other European countries for over 3 years without any major problems. The London is in fact the 15th European city to benefit from this service and certainly has not been head of the queue.
If you want to know more or are interested in using this service do give us a call. We will be happy to discuss your requirements with you.