A cold-chain sea-rail combined freight train carrying 375 metric tons of potatoes leaves Dingxi in Gansu province on Sept 16. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A cold-chain sea-rail combined freight train carrying 375 metric tons of potatoes left Dingxi in Gansu province on Sept 16, heading for the Qingdao Port of Shandong Port Group (SPG), from where the goods will be sent to Bangkok in Thailand by ship.

This was the first Dingxi-Huangdao Port-Bangkok cold-chain sea-rail combined freight train launched by Shandong Port Logistics Group in a joint collaboration with Lanzhou Branch of CR Container Transport Co Ltd and the Lanzhou Railway Transport Center. The train offers a convenient and efficient transport route for import and export enterprises in northwestern regions.

Dingxi in Gansu province is one of China's top potato growing areas. However, factors like transportation efficiency and product freshness have to some extent restricted the export of potatoes. To tackle such challenges, Shandong Port Logistics Lanzhou Company has worked with Lanzhou Branch of CR Container Transport Co Ltd and the Lanzhou Railway Transport Center to visit relevant potato enterprises and design an entire logistics solution for cold-chain sea-rail combined transport. This has reduced logistics costs for customers by nearly 15 percent.

The opening of the train is a significant step for SPG's Logistics Group in the implementation of the Yellow River national strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative, which will further smooth the international sea-rail combined logistics corridor between Northwest China and Southeast Asian countries. Meanwhile, it will bolster bilateral import and export trade, stabilize industrial and supply chains and serve the new development pattern.