A Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal train, fully loaded with porcelain and other goods, pulled out of the CRRC Zhuzhou Logistics Park on the morning of June 20. These goods will be shipped to Africa after a transfer at Nansha Port in Guangzhou. 

This departure marked the 1000th trip of the Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal trains since their launch in 2021. 

The Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal train service began operation in September 2021. It offers China's first international logistics passage based on Africa-bound rail-sea intermodal train service. Departing from the CRRC Zhuzhou Logistics Park, the trains will reach Nansha, Yantian, and Shekou ports in Guangzhou along the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway. Then, the goods will be transferred to the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America by ocean-going cargo ships. 

Over the past three years, the Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal trains have maintained efficient operation with rapidly increasing trips. Only 10 trips were made from September to December of 2021. In 2022, the number of trips reached 242. This figure has nearly doubled to 460 in 2023, and surged to 288 in the first half of this year. It is anticipated that 500 train trips will be made in total during the whole year of 2024. 

The Hunan-Guangdong-Africa rail-sea intermodal train service features shorter transportation time, safer and more stable operation, and lower cost, compared with other transportation modes. Since 2022, it has continued to expand the categories of cargos, with more and more highly value-added goods delivered. Statistics shows that, it has saved nearly 100 million CNY of logistics cost for the manufacturers.  

The Changsha Railway Logistics Center has collaborated with many local manufacturing giants such as Zoomlion and SANY Group, offering customized loading and transporting solutions to ensure safe delivery of large mechanical equipment and parts in different sizes.