“暗戰”在新絲路上的物流班列

□ 文/本刊記者 唐綱

“暗戰”在新絲路上的物流班列

□ 文/本刊記者 唐綱

兩千年前，駝鈴陣陣中，古絲綢之路成了一條震古爍今的世界級貿易走廊。如今，在現代交通驅動下，絲綢之路經濟帶正成為橫貫亞歐大陸、世界上最長、最具發展潛力的經濟大走廊。

為了搶占新絲綢之路經濟帶的先機，目前國內已有多個城市開通了歐洲貨運班列，如重慶、成都、鄭州、西安、蘭州、武漢等，它們在關檢、溫控措施、回程貨源等方面暗暗“較勁”，各施殺手锏，形成了浩浩蕩蕩的“物流大軍”。

“蓉歐快鐵”剛運行一年

作為“絲綢之路經濟帶”物流項目的先行者——成都至波蘭的“蓉歐國際快速鐵路”（蓉歐快鐵）截至4月27日已運行整一周年。這期間，快鐵準點達到率99%，共搭載來自全國各地出口歐洲的貨物8292.6噸，成為了名符其實的中歐間物流新通道。

成都海關辦公室負責人介紹，自去年4月27日開行首班快鐵以來，“蓉歐快鐵”共開行45班，搭載標箱3704個，實現貨值1.56億美元。貨源地覆蓋西南、華南、華東等多個地區。

據介紹，”蓉歐快鐵”運行一年來，不僅呈現出運行時間穩定、發車時間固定、搭載貨物種類多、參與企業地區多、服務保障措施多等特點。該快鐵完全實現了確保貨物14天準時抵達歐洲、1－3天送達客戶，準點率高達99%。

“蓉歐快鐵”從成都青白江集裝箱中心站出發，經新疆阿拉山口出境，途經哈薩克斯坦、俄羅斯、白俄羅斯等國直達波蘭羅茲站，線路全長9826公里（其中成都至阿拉山口3511公里，阿拉山口至羅茲6315公里），運行時間為14天，然后通過歐洲鐵路、公路網絡分送至歐洲任何地方。

成都認為，“迅捷”、“價優”的比較優勢是蓉歐快鐵能夠獲得眾多企業認可的兩張王牌：蓉歐快鐵比目前的其他貨運班列節省8-10天，比海運節約1個月以上，而運輸成本僅為空運的1/8至1/4。

據成都亞歐班列物流有限公司相關負責人透露，蓉歐快鐵將爭取在今年上半年正式實現雙向對開。旺季時爭取每周發兩列，運行時間也將從現在的14天縮短到12天以內。

蓉歐快鐵還推出了鐵路運輸溫控服務，解決了長期以來在嚴冬和酷夏的數個月中，熱敏產品無法通過高效、經濟的西部洲際鐵路走廊實現運輸的問題。從今年開始，四川成都的電腦、波蘭的牛肉、法國的紅酒，將不懼嚴寒和酷暑，在蓉歐快鐵上全年無休地流動。

“鄭歐班列”開行27班列

2014年農歷春節剛過完，從德國漢堡發車的鄭歐返程班列，滿載著歐洲制造的汽車原配件和動車、高鐵鋼板駛進鄭州鐵路集裝箱中心站，將河南與絲綢之路經濟帶新緊密聯系在一起。

鄭歐國際鐵路貨運班列的開通，讓河南激活了絲綢之路經濟帶的源頭活水。截至5月7日，鄭歐班列已累計成功開行27班班列，貨重達到18469.11噸，貨值1.1143億美元，目的地覆蓋歐洲12個國家32個城市。

鄭歐班列打通了國際鐵路大通道。在這樣的戰略謀劃下，鄭州乃至河南將在絲綢之路經濟帶建設中做足文章。

蘭州：發力“陸上通道”

據記者了解，正在加快建設的銀川至西安快速鐵路項目，以及包(頭)蘭(州)線銀川至蘭州段的改造工程等多個工程，將實現寧夏與隴海線、蘭新線(亦即新歐亞大陸橋的國內部分)的全面銜接，這將構成寧夏向西開放的“陸上通道”。

“漢新歐”：停了一年后再次開行

4月23日上午，“漢新歐”鐵路國際貨運班列常態化運營首發儀式在武漢鐵路集裝箱中心站舉行，此舉標志著武漢在實施“絲綢之路經濟帶”和推進向西開放戰略邁出堅實一步。

“漢新歐”鐵路從武漢出發，經新疆阿拉山口口岸出境，進入哈薩克斯坦、俄羅斯、白俄羅斯和波蘭，終點到捷克。

2012年，“漢新歐”鐵路曾經開行，后因故停運。這次是其停運一年后的再次開行。

西安“長安號”開至中亞

2013年11月28日上午，首列西安至中亞的“長安號”從西安國際港務區緩緩開出，6天后抵達哈薩克斯坦阿拉木圖。“長安號”的開行，推動了絲綢之路的物流貿易，成為“絲綢之路經濟帶”的黃金干線。

西安國際港務區管委會主任強曉安介紹，“長安號”從西安出發，沿隴海蘭新線一路向西，途經新疆，抵達哈薩克斯坦。目前，“長安號”采取“一干兩支”的開行路線（西安—鹿特丹、西安—莫斯科、西安—阿拉木圖），以及分兩期實施的開行規劃（西安—中亞、西安—歐洲）。

渝新歐：已在歐洲設立聯絡處

5月23日，渝新歐回程班列推介會暨重慶市政府物流協調辦公室駐歐洲聯絡處成立揭牌儀式在德國杜塞爾多夫中國中心舉行。重慶市政府物流協調辦公室駐歐洲聯絡處的成立，標志著渝新歐國際物流大通道建設跨入了新的歷史階段。

渝新歐全程11000公里，實際運行時間為16天左右，比海運快40天。其中，口岸和站場滯留時間不超過60小時，通關時間12小時，貨物在口岸的滯留時間僅占全程運輸時間的17%，遠低于亞歐大陸橋“北線”的30%-50%。

渝新歐班列服務范圍輻射了中國華東、華南、西南、華中以及臺港澳地區。從2011年1月28日首趟渝新歐列車成功開行以來，截至目前，渝新歐貨物運輸總量為1萬多標箱，占整個經阿拉山口出入境的中歐班列的80%，開行頻率為每周3-4班。去年，重慶轉口貨運量占比達到50%，渝新歐正在成為國家戰略的重要支撐。

重慶市政府物流協調辦公室駐歐洲聯絡處的成立，將進一步促進渝新歐回程班列的集貨和渝新歐國際聯運大通道在歐洲的雙向開行，進一步降低運行成本，提高其競爭力。同時，還將陸續推進在比利時、荷蘭、匈牙利、波蘭、俄羅斯等國家設立貨物集結中心，建立“渝新歐”回程貨源的集貨渠道，拓寬回程貨的貨源品種。

5月26日，重慶市政府物流協調辦公室駐比利時辦事處掛牌。此舉將更好地促進中國和歐洲經貿的發展，組織吸引更多的比利時和歐洲企業關注渝新歐，把歐洲的高端產品運到重慶，再分撥到全國各地。

Cargo Trains Compete along the Silk Road in an Invisible Contest

Two millenniums ago, the Silk Road formed an extremely impressive world-class trade corridor amid the sounds of camel bells. As modern transport facilities develop, the Silk Road economic belt is turning into the world's longest and most promising grand economic corridor, which traverses the Eurasian continent.

To gain first-mover advantages along the new Silk Road, quite a number of Chinese cities have launched cargo trains that travel all the way to Europe, for example, Chongqing, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Lanzhou, and Wuhan. They are making allout efforts in an invisible contest to see who is the winner in areas like customs inspection, temperature regulation measures, and backhaul cargo sources. This has given rise to an overwhelming logistic army.

Chengdu-Europe Railway has run for just over a year

As a forerunner in the logistics project for the Silk Road economic belt, Chengdu-Europe Railway between Chengdu and Poland had been in operation for a whole year as of April 27. During this period of time, 99% of the trains arrived on time, carrying altogether 8292.6 metric tons of cargo exported from various parts of China to Europe and living up to its intended position as a new logistic channel between China and Europe.

According to the head of Chengdu Customs Offi ce, Chengdu-Europe Railway has run 45 trips carrying USD 156 million-worth of cargo in 3704 standard containers. The cargo was from multiple areas, like Southwest China, South China, and East China.

Chengdu-Europe Railway posted a good track record during its fi rst year of operation: fi xed departure times, stable operation durations, diversity in types of cargo, large numbers of enterprises and regions involved, adequate services and guarantees etc. All cargo arrived in Europe in 14 days and was delivered to clients 1 to 3 days later. 99% of the trains arrived on time.

The train departs from Chengdu's Qingbaijiang central container station and leaves China via Alashankou in Xinjiang. It travels through multiple countries including Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus and finally arrives in Lodz of Poland. The whole trip is 9826 kilometers long (3511 kilometers from Chengdu to Alashankou and 6315 kilometers from Alashankou to Lodz). Cargo can be distributed to any part of Europe through Europe's railway and road networks.

Chengdu believes that the trump cards that have won Chengdu-Europe Railway recognition from so many enterprises are speed and cost-effectiveness. Chengdu-Europe Railway is 8 to 10 days faster than its competitors and over one month faster than shipping lines. It costs only 1/8 to 1/4 as much as air transport.

According to executives of Chengdu Asia-Europe Railway Logistics Co., Ltd., the company will try to offi cially launch twoway operation in the fi rst half of this year. During peak seasons, it will try to run two trains each week, and the whole duration will be cut to 12 days or less.

Chengdu-Europe Railway has rolled out temperatureregulated transport services to end the situation where extreme weather makes it impossible to transport thermo-sensitive products through this effi cient and cost-effective intercontinental corridor. Starting from this year, computers from Chengdu, beef from Poland, and wine from France will be able to travel along Chengdu-Europe Railway all year around, protected against chilly winters and burning summers.

Zhengzhou-Europe Railway returns with hope

Shortly after the Spring Festival of 2014, a train of Zhengzhou-Europe Railway departing from Hamburg of Germany arrived at Zhengzhou central railway container station, fully loaded with European-made auto parts and steel plates for manufacturing multi-unit trains and high-speed trains. Zhengzhou-Europe Railway connects Henan to the Silk Road economic belt.

Zhengzhou-Europe Railway has provided an opportunity for Henan to activate its economy by benefiting from the Silk Road economic belt. Until May 7, 27 trains had run on Zhengzhou-Europe Railway, carrying 18469.11 metric tons of cargo worth USD 111.43 million. The cargo destinations were 32 cities in 12 countries.

Zhengzhou-Europe Railway is an international railway artery, which provides a strategic opportunity for Zhengzhou and, for that matter, the whole province of Henan, to make the most of the Silk Road economic belt.

Changan trains from Xi'an have reached Central Asia

On the morning of November 28, 2013, the first Changan train departed from Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park and would arrive in Almaty of Kazakhstan 6 days later. This railway would promote logistics along the Silk Road and become a golden route for the Silk Road economic belt.

According to Qiang Xiaoan, Director of Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park Management Committee, Changan trains currently have one main line and two branch lines (Xi'an-Rotterdam, Xi'an-Moscow, and Xi'an-Almaty). There are two phases: Xi'an-Central Asia for the fi rst phase and Xi'an-Europe for the second phase.

Lanzhou is working to build a land artery

Based on information your correspondent obtained, the Yinchuan-Xi'an high-speed railway, the renovation of the Yinchuan-Lanzhou section on the Baotou-Lanzhou railway, and a bunch of other projects under expedited construction will fully connect Ningxia to the Lianyungang-Lanzhou Railway and the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway, which is the new Eurasian Continental Bridge's section in China. This will provide Ningxia with a land artery that leads west.

Wuhan-Xinjiang-Europe Railway has been reopened after being closed for one year

On the morning of April 23, a ceremony was held at Wuhan central railway container station to mark the departure of the first train in regular international cargo services on the Wuhan-Xinjiang-Europe Railway. This was one of Wuhan's steady steps towards building the Silk Road economic belt and opening up to regions to its west.

The Wuhan-Xinjiang-Europe Railway starts from Wuhan and leads out of China via Alashankou. It then goes through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, and Poland to reach the terminus --the Czech Republic.

Wuhan-Xinjiang-Europe Railway was first opened in 2012 and later closed due to some reasons. It has now been reopened after being closed for one year.

Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway has set up a liaison offi ce in Europe.

On May 23, an event was held in Dusseldorf China Center, Germany to promote cargo services provided by trains returning to Chongqing on Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway and to inaugurate the European Liaison Office of the Logistic Coordination Office under the Chongqing government. The Liaison Offi ce marks the beginning of a new historical phase in the construction of Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe international logistic artery.

Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway is 11,000 kilometers long. A one-way trip takes around 16 days, 40 days shorter than shipping. During the trip, less than 60 hours is spent waiting at ports and operation yards, and 12 hours is spent on customs clearance. The time spent waiting at ports accounts for only 17% of the whole trip, as opposed to 30% to 50% on the north line of the Eurasian Continental Bridge.

Cargo services provided by trains on Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway cover East China, South China, Southwest China, Central China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Since the first train ran on January 28, 2011, Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway has carried altogether over 10 thousand TEUs of cargo, which accounts for 80% of the entire amount carried by all China-Europe trains that have gone through Alashankou, and the operation frequency has been kept at three or four trains per week. Last year, Chongqing's entrepot cargo volume reached 50% of its total cargo volume. Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway is turning into an important prop for China's strategy of development.

The European Liaison Office of the Logistic Coordination Office under the Chongqing government will facilitate cargo collection for trains returning from Europe and push for two-way operation on Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway. These efforts will cut costs and raise competitiveness. Meanwhile, the Liaison Offi ce will set up cargo collection centers in multiple countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, and Russia to explore a diversity of sources of cargo for backhaul trains.

On May 26, the Belgian Offi ce of the Logistic Coordination Office under the Chongqing government was inaugurated. This move will give impetus to China-Europe trade and get more Belgian and European enterprises to be interested in Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway, transporting upmarket European products to Chongqing, from where they are distributed across China..