Rail transport: the sustainable solution to unpredictable sea freight

The landscape of freight transportation between China and Europe is changing rapidly, with rail transport playing an increasingly important role. Igor Tambaca, Director of Rail Bridge Cargo (RBC), highlights the key shifts and their impact on businesses:
“We’re witnessing a significant shift from sea freight to rail, primarily due to geopolitical issues and challenges in maritime transport.” Igor refers to disruptions in the Suez Canal and conflicts in Yemen, which force shipping companies to take the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope.
“Ships that would normally transit through the Suez Canal now often need to reroute, extending transit times to 45-65 days—nearly three to four times longer than rail transport. Such lengthy delays are unacceptable for businesses as they jeopardize their sales processes. This drives higher demand for rail transport and the alternative routes we offer.”

Economy and Express: Speed and Reliability

RBC offers a range of solutions, with its Economy option being the most popular.
“Our Economy Rail solution has a transit time of 18-20 days, which many customers—especially those accustomed to sea freight—find surprisingly fast. For those needing even greater speed, we offer our Express Rail solution, delivering in just 12-14 days.”

Clients transitioning from sea freight increasingly choose rail for its significantly shorter transit times and its impact on their Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). To respond to sanctions and geopolitical concerns, RBC has developed five routes that bypass Russia, ensuring that businesses can continue to receive goods cost-effectively.

Igor elaborates on the unpredictability of sea freight:
“Many shipping lines face blank sailings, where scheduled routes are canceled, and rollovers, where containers are unexpectedly left behind at intermediate ports. This unpredictability creates major logistical challenges for businesses.”

In addition to addressing the uncertainties of sea freight, rail offers notable advantages over air freight. “Air freight has limited capacity and a much larger carbon footprint. Our rail services produce 27 times less CO₂ emissions (per tonne-kilometer) than air freight and can handle significantly larger volumes. This allows us to transport goods efficiently and sustainably without compromising on speed.”

Over the past two years, the number of customers choosing RBC for its CO₂-saving benefits has tripled. “Beyond environmental advantages, rail is often more than 50% cheaper than air freight. Our CO₂ savings calculator provides a detailed overview of reductions in CO₂, sulfur dioxide, and energy consumption,” Igor explains.

RBC operates routes along both the northern and southern corridors between China and Europe. Despite concerns about the war in Ukraine and potential disruptions, rail transport via the northern corridor remains the fastest solution.
“We currently offer 43 westbound and 21 eastbound routes. Meanwhile, our southern route has been optimized with additional ferry services, minimizing congestion,” Igor notes.

Sustainable and Flexible: The Future of Rail Transport

“Rail transport is an indispensable mode in any supply chain,” says Igor. “Its role will only grow over the next five years. Air freight simply cannot meet the demand, especially for large shipments, and its environmental impact is no longer acceptable. Companies that previously relied on sea freight are discovering rail as an attractive alternative: faster, cleaner, and more reliable.”

He assures that the rising demand does not pose capacity issues for RBC.
“We have sufficient routes and can distribute volumes effectively, ensuring we remain flexible at all times.” This makes rail a solid choice for businesses prioritizing reliability and sustainability in their logistics chains.

Door-to-Door Service

Another key advantage of rail is the swift handling at terminals.
“With sea freight, LCL shipments can sometimes sit at terminals for weeks before being picked up. With rail, our trains in Duisburg are unloaded within one day of arrival, making goods readily available,” Igor explains.

RBC offers a comprehensive door-to-door service.

“We collect products from suppliers in China and deliver them directly to the customer’s door. The only responsibility for the customer is to pay import duties. We handle the rest.”

Rail Bridge Cargo provides a reliable and sustainable solution to the growing challenges of transportation between China and Europe. With fast transit times, flexible options, and low CO₂ emissions, rail presents an attractive alternative to sea and air freight.
“Our customers can rest easy,” says Igor. “We support them every step of the way, whether it’s one pallet or larger volumes. Rail is no longer the future of transport—it has already become the standard for many businesses today.”