An intermodal train leaves Hanoi for Belgium. (Photo: baogiaothong.vn)

Amid obstacles in sea transportation which have caused freight rates to increase, rail transportation has come to the rescue. It helps save a lot of time and money, especially on transfer procedures of exported products. This is the golden time for Vietnam to promote inter-modal rail transportation and improve its export cargo transport capacity, according to a railway official.

Nguyen Hoang Thanh, Deputy General Director of Railway Trading and Transport Joint Stock Company (Ratraco) under the Vietnam Railways, said, “At the moment, we have a freight train every seven to ten days. We are working increase the frequency. The departure days for freight trains are fixed on every Wednesday and Sunday."

It takes 25-27 days for a freight train to travel from Vietnam to Europe, two third the amount of time needed for a cargo ship.

Vietnam Railways on July 20 added a new rail freight link from Vietnam to Belgium. The first train departing from Yen Vien station, Hanoi, carried 23 containers with such goods as textile, leather and footwear. During its journey, the train stopped at Zhenzhou city of China’s Henan province and was connected to the Asia-Europe train to reach its destination at Liege City in Belgium.