photo: A.P. Moller- Maersk/First-ever container block train from Japan to UK
Maersk's shipment of the 40-foot container arrived in Felixstowe, UK, on March 2, after leaving Yokohama, Japan, in January and crossing Russia by land and sea. This first-ever product - operated jointly with the Modul railway provider - is part of the Maersk AE19 service, which since 2019 has connected Asia and Europe via the Trans-Siberian Railway and the ports of Vostochniy and St. Petersburg.
"Since its launch two years ago, this is the first time that our AE19 services have delivered a full-size container train with goods from Japan only." Transit from Asia to Europe via Russia is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to transporting goods across the Suez Canal, even on sea routes such as Japan to the United Kingdom. We are convinced that the progress we made together last year in expanding AE19, together with Russian Railways and our Modul partners, will continue the growth trajectory of Trans-Siberian transit in 2021, ”explains Zsolt Katona, Head of Maersk Eastern Europe.
"This Maersk freight train from Japan is a clear example of the synergies between ocean and rail." Russian Railways is fully committed to providing our international customers with the highest standards of service, speed and safety on this transcontinental route, ”comments Alexey Shilo, Deputy Director of Russian Railways.
Transit shipments from Japan to Europe were one of the largest container flows by the Trans-Siberian Railway 30 years ago. Today, Maersk AE19 is helping to reopen this important transit route for carriers in Asia and Europe. "Meeting our customers' expectations is always a priority for Maersk." The ability to offer solutions such as the AE19 to our customer base in Japan represents the opportunities that Maersk can bring in many modes of transport. I am extremely pleased to see the support of our customers, and I look forward to making it the choice for more and more customers, ”adds Toru Nishiyama, Regional Director for Northeast Asia, Maersk.
AE19 now offers three departures per week and transports mostly goods between Northeast Asia and Northern Europe. Given the current pressure on the Asia-Europe Ocean network, Maersk expects transit shipments between Japan and Europe through a highly reliable trans-Siberian operation on AE19 to continue to expand in 2021.