The actual situation in rail transport and alternative solutions

Dear customers,

 

We would like to inform you about the current situation in rail transport.

 

 

👉 The official end of the exercise was September 16, but the border remains closed, with no date set for reopening.

 

Actual situation on the line:

• Train accumulation – trains are currently standing approximately 600 km before Brest. Trains arriving gradually are accumulating here and are likely to cause congestion. After the border reopens, trains can be expected to be cleared gradually, which will lead to further delays. The longer the border remains closed, the greater this problem will be.

• Departures from China – trains are currently departing as normal from Chinese terminals.

 

Alternative routes:

• Southern option – the operator is now offering the possibility of booking on the southern route. No regular departure schedule has been set yet; the train will depart as soon as it is full. We are closely monitoring the situation and can offer this option if there is interest. After crossing the Caspian Sea, the route is planned to go through Turkey, i.e. without sailing in the Black Sea.

• Direct truck via Lithuania – another option is transport from Belarus via Lithuania to Poland using a direct truck.  The price level is currently around USD 16,000–18,000 for door-to-door transport from China to the Czech Republic.

If you are considering one of the above alternatives, we recommend that you start arranging transport as soon as possible. Capacity is limited, and due to the upcoming Chinese Golden Week holiday (October 1-7), orders can only be placed this week and at the beginning of next week. Further shipments and departures can be planned after the end of the public holiday in China.

 

The situation remains very dynamic and unpredictable. As soon as the Polish government issues an official decision on opening the border, we will inform you immediately. However, the decision to reopen the borders is solely up to Poland. According to available information, commercial pressure is being exerted and the market is hoping for the earliest date of September 30, but the Polish government has announced that everything is conditional on ensuring the safety of citizens and the end of the threat of provocations, as stated by the Polish Minister of the Interior.

We recommend that you expect possible further delays even after the borders reopen, until the routes and hubs are cleared again.