Davies Turner re-starts China rail freight service after coronavirus delays

Davies Turner will re-commence its fixed-day, weekly direct rail import service from China to the UK in March, after it was suspended due to coronavirus.

Tony Cole, head of supply chain services at Davies Turner, said: “In keeping with normal practice, our Express China Rail Service did not operate during the Chinese New Year holiday break and its suspension has been further extended due to the Covid-19 coronavirus.

“With Wuhan, the epicentre of the epidemic, continuing to be under lockdown and the re-opening of factories there recently postponed until 11 March, the rail service will now depart from the Xi’an rail hub, directly into Duisburg in Germany.

“Containers will be then trucked under bond to the port of Rotterdam and transported by ferry to Purfleet, on the River Thames for on-carriage by truck to Davies Turner’s distribution centre, near Dartford, east of London, where they will be discharged, customs cleared and delivered.”

From 13 March, Davies Turner plans initially to offer a single weekly departure, but this could rise to twice-weekly departures, depending on demand. The transit time between Xi’an and Duisburg is approximately 18 days.

Cole said: “At this time, we have rail bookings to hand which relate to frames for glasses, plastic film, metal parts, tooling, as well as fashion goods; but our closing date for receipt of cargo for the initial departure from Xi’an is not until 9 March, and therefore we expect further bookings to be received.”