FESCO Transport Group organized the dispatch of the first public container train from the Republic of Belarus to Novorossiysk. The train left the Kolyadichi station in Minsk and arrived at the Black Sea port last week. The transit time by rail was five days.
The difference with the previous scheme is in access. Prior to that, container trains were mainly sent to the Belarusian direction for specific large cargo owners or wagon shipments were used. The public service accepts orders for the transportation of shipments from a single container, which opens the route for medium and small senders.
"The first public container train from Minsk opens up additional opportunities for Belarusian exporters to organize shipments through Novorossiysk. Until now, container trains for individual cargo owners or wagon shipments have mainly been sent in this direction. Now customers with shipments from one container can use the regular train," commented Alexey Kravchenko, Executive Director of FESCO Integrated Transport.
The containers of the first train will leave for Turkey via the FESCO Turkey Black Sea sea line connecting Novorossiysk with the ports of Istanbul and Gebze. In addition to the Turkish arm, direct line services to ports in the Middle East, India, China and Vietnam are available from Novorossiysk. For the Belarusian exporter, this is a single logistics chain to the markets of India, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and Southeast Asia.
At the first stage, trains from Minsk are planned to depart once a month, with a possible increase in frequency. Frequency is still the main limitation of the service.: The monthly interval requires planning the shipment in advance and is not suitable for an urgent shipment.
The moment of launch adds weight to the route. Against the background of increased attacks on the civilian fleet in the waters of the Sea of Azov, the Ministry of Transport is working on the reorientation of bulk cargo to other modes of transport, and the overland transportation of containers to Novorossiysk fits into this restructuring. Senders should request a tariff and schedule from the operator, as well as check the deadlines for their purchase cycle.
