Just a few days ago, on November 28th of 2017, the first direct cargo train for China left the logistics hub of Mortara (Italy). The convoy will pass across Europe on a 10.800 kilometers long route and, after 18 days of travel, will reach China. Its final destination is Chengdu, densely populated (14 million inhabitants) and flourishing capital of the Sichuan region in the south-west of China.

Cinese partner of the deal is Changjiu Logistics, first listed logistics company belonging to the Changjiu Group ,chinese market giant with a turnover of over 20 million.

The project has a fundamental role in the economic relationships between the two countries. After the one with Belgium and the other with Germany, the one with Italy represents the third european direct connection on rail with the country of the Far East. The route, opened with the convoy leaving the Pavia region, will see, in the month of December,  the passage of another train only (from Chengdu to the logistics hub of Mortara). But starting from January the traffic will be implemented up to two couples of convoys per week.

However, a significant increase in trades is already expected. The ambition is to reach 20 trains per week before 2020. The plan certainly is grand, but it finds encouragement on data having logistics nature. In fact, it is to be noticed that, the carriage of goods on rails, apart from being cheaper than airfreight, enables to save at least 30 days from the time required by marine transport. Moreover, the recent lowering down by the chinese Authorities of the import custom duties may have a positive role on the outcome of the project.