FSC is the first company in the world to decide to launch a regular freight connection on the Hamburg – Xiangtan route. It will transport electronic components manufactured in China to Fujitsu Siemens Computers factories in Germany, where finished computers are assembled. In logistical cooperation with Deutsche Bahn Schenker – the German equivalent of PKP Cargo – and in agreement with local carriers, a route was prepared from China, through Mongolia, Russia, Belarus, and Poland, to the terminal in Hamburg. Along this route, from September 19 to October 6, the first giant train of containers with electronics and monitors will travel.
The safety of the delicate cargo, exposed to drastic climate changes, temperatures (reaching several dozen degrees Celsius in the Gobi Desert within a day), humidity, and inevitable shocks, will be ensured by a special GPS monitoring system, which will additionally oversee parameters such as vibrations, shocks, temperature, cargo humidity, or unauthorized opening of the wagon doors. They did not rely solely on electronics – the valuable cargo, just like in the days of the caravans from the tales of 1001 Nights, will also be guarded by armed guards.
Fujitsu Siemens recently advanced to a high third place in the ranking of environmentally friendly corporations published by Greenpeace; this unprecedented undertaking is part of the company’s conscious policy. Rail transport of this cargo, although it takes incomparably longer, generates only 5% of the amount of carbon dioxide that would be released into the atmosphere in the case of air cargo. Going beyond production and recycling issues takes the concept of “Green IT” to a whole new level. This ecological initiative also has a measurable economic aspect – rail transport is four times cheaper than air freight and almost twice as fast as ocean freight.
If the pioneering journey is successful, others will follow the first train. Although in November, due to the Siberian winter, the courses will be suspended until April, the intention is for the route to be operational all year round, thanks to the introduction of special wagons that maintain a constant temperature. Ultimately, taking into account current demand, Fujitsu Siemens Computers anticipates at least one giant train per week.
During the first journey, at www.transeurasiablog.com, you will be able to track the train’s progress online, watch video and photo reports, and read interesting information, e.g., about the towns being passed.
In Poland, we have the chance to see the marriage of state-of-the-art technology and proven rail transport live. After all, it is through our country – from Terespol to Kostrzyn nad Odrą – that the penultimate stage of the journey will run.