The inaugural Guangdong-Hunan two-way e-commerce freight train marks the full opening of a new logistics channel connecting central parts of China with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This initiative establishes an efficient, stable, and cost-effective supply chain bridge for cross-border e-commerce, manufacturing, and commercial enterprises in both regions. "Upon arrival at the Guangzhou International Port Station, e-commerce goods from Hunan are transferred to road transport for delivery to express distribution points, achieving same-day delivery," explained Yan Wenhuan, deputy manager of the Marketing Department at the Changsha Railway Logistics Center of the China Railway Guangzhou Engineering Group Co., Ltd.

The newly-opened two-way e-commerce freight train service operates under a "shuttle bus-style" service model, traveling at 120 kilometers per hour. It adheres to service standards of "fixed stations, fixed routes, fixed train numbers, fixed schedules, and fixed pricing," ensuring stable station-to-station transportation with same-day delivery. This effectively resolves the problem of fluctuating delivery times in e-commerce logistics, advancing standardization and controllability of end-to-end transportation.

The freight train service offers significant advantages in both cost and efficiency. According to calculations, the transportation cost per 40-foot container is approximately 10% lower than road transport. The "flat-rate pricing" policy mitigates the risk of peak-season surcharges, while individual containers can also benefit from the flexible configuration of the train service. This aligns with the transportation demands of e-commerce goods, characterized by "multiple batches, small volumes, and high timeliness." Leveraging the intelligent warehousing systems at both end logistics parks, the service achieves seamless integration across the entire chain—from consolidation and transportation to warehousing and distribution. Goods remain fully traceable throughout the journey, with cargo damage rates controlled below 0.1%.

Notably, the freight train operations are electrified during the entire journey, with carbon emissions per unit of cargo amounting to just one-third of those from road transport. This approach enhances logistics efficiency while offering a greener transportation solution.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.excelee.com.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn