Business booms in China-Europe freight train loading

WARSAW - At Saturday noon, a freight train carrying dozens of containers pulled into the station at a logistics park in Poland's central city of Lodz, whistling a soothing tune for those waiting for its arrival.

The train, which is part of the China-Europe freight train service -- China Rail Express, traveled more than ten days since leaving China's western city of Chengdu.

Every week, two such trains loaded with Chinese goods, mostly electronic products and machine parts, arrive at the park operated by Lodz' leading logistics company Hatrans. They go back to China with European products.

"More and more Polish companies, especially food producers, request us to transport their products to China," said Krzysztof Janeczko, an engineer working at the logistics park.

"It is pleasant to do business with the Chinese people," Janeczko said, adding that he has been engaged in such train service for over four years.

The trans-continent train service began in 2011. At present, there are over 20 scheduled trains shuttling between the two continents, almost all of which go to Western Europe through Lodz. Two of the trains end in Poland, one departing from China's western city of Chengdu to Poland and the other from China's eastern city of Suzhou to Warsaw.

Janeczko sees huge potential in freight train service, which is more cost- and time-efficient compared with other means of transportation. It is estimated that rail transportation saves as much as two thirds of the time used by sea transportation and four fifths of the air transportation costs.

Pointing at the containers bearing Chinese logos piling at the two sides of a railway going through the logistics park, the freight train service can give a big boost to bilateral trade, Janeczko said.

Thanks to the train service, trade between Poland and the Chinese province of Sichuan, whose capital is Chengdu, has grown remarkably, with Poland's export to Sichuan surging 36 percent in 2015, according to Chinese embassy officials in Warsaw.

Janeczko believed Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit will bring more vigor to bilateral business ties.