Although the trip was back in April, automotive logistics specialist, GEFCO, announced today it had transported 500 tonnes of key automotive spare parts from Wuhan, China, to France by securing one of the first block trains to travel from the city since the COVID-19 global crisis forced lockdown measures.
With high demand for rail from China and the majority of trains terminating in Germany, GEFCO worked with rail operators and terminal owners to coordinate the shipment and agree a dedicated block train directly to France.
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It provided door to door delivery, including all necessary pre- and post-carriage arrangements for road and rail, the loading of the containers at supplier plants in Shanghai and Chengdu, custom procedures and warehousing in France.
The 41 containers arrived at Lille Dourges Container Terminal in Dourges, northern France, just 19 days after collection on 21 April 2020, following a 10,000km route across China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany and France.
GEFCO said it provided contactless procedures at terminals as part of strict safety procedures in light of COVID-19 and, by moving the parts by rail over three weeks in sealed containers, ensured there was no risk of the virus being carried.
It said rail logistics is cheaper than air transport and delivers significant CO2 reductions. This train from China to Europe achieved a 4,500 ton reduction in CO2 emissions compared with air transport.
Alice Defranoux, global rail manager, GEFCO, said: "Securing the first block train from Wuhan to France marked a significant milestone amid the global challenges of the COVID-19 crisis."
"We're pleased to see restrictions begin to lift as countries work towards recovery."
With car plants ceasing activity across Europe, GEFCO also found ways to store the parts in local warehouses to ensure fast access for clients as soon as production resumed.
To aid manufacturers further in restarting production, GEFCO shipped 2m masks to ensure the health and safety of customers' employees when sites reopened, primarily by air but now also via rail.
