Mail-only trains from China are helping clear the huge backlog of mail destined for Europe and deliver medical supplies under a UPU-driven international partnership.
The first train – the China Post CR Express 1st block train – was unloaded in Vilnius, Lithuania, on April 12, carrying mail and two containers of medical supplies, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) said today.
The bulk of the mail, about 260 tons, will be trucked to some 30 European countries, with most shipments travelling to Germany, the UK, France, Spain and Hungary, according to Lithuanian Post.
Each China-Europe mail train carries around 300 tons of mail and transport takes between 12-14 days. Around 2,000 tons of mail is now slated for rail transport from China in the next 2-3 months, UPU said.
The freight train services are the result of cooperation between China Post, Lithuania Post, Polish Post and railway operators. Many of the train journeys end in Lithuania, although other trains go to Poland. Trucks then take the mail to their final destination in more than 30 countries spread across Europe.
Asta Sungailienė, CEO of Lithuanian Post, said: “For the first time in history, a mail-only train is being sent from China to Europe. Lithuanian Post has a unique role to play – we will be responsible for the distribution of parcels delivered by this historic train throughout Europe.”
She pointed out that the postal operator started a cooperation with China Post in the field of transportation of postal items by rail in July 2019, but the quantities of items received were significantly smaller last year.
The use of the rail network to deliver mail is also a success for the UPU’s Supply Chain Team, which has championed the rail network for the delivery of mail between Europe and Asia. At present, the team is working with representatives from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, among others.
The UPU’s Director of Postal Operations, Abdelilah Bousseta, said: “Sometimes supreme challenges can lead to good ideas and produce simplified solutions. At present, given the current situation, the train network is one of the very best solutions for moving the huge volumes of mail.”
Noor Adan, the UPU’s Global Supply Chain Coordinator, added: “The Universal Postal Union is proud to work with postal operators and railway operators to ensure that the international postal service continues during this crisis.”
