Lithuanian Railways expects to attract more trains from China

VILNIUS - A total of 15 to 20 trains from China are expected to come to Lithuania in 2017, Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, or LG) said after this year's first transit train from the Asian country arrived in Lithuania on Monday.

"We seek that as many Europe-bound shipments from China as possible are routed via Lithuania. We are in an excellent geographical position and can offer a unique opportunity for our partners to use the European railway corridor," Gerimantas Bakanas, deputy CEO of the state railway company, said in a press release.

The train of the international logistic company Hupac Intermodal SA arrived in the Kena railway station at the border with Belarus after a 9-day journey from China. It carries 82 containers of chemical products for plants in Germany and France.

The total number of trains traveling from China to Europe is expected to rise to 2,500 this year, from 1,700 in 2016, and reach 5,000 in 2025.

LG said that its cooperation with Chinese logistic companies was intensifying, noting that it had already started cooperation with Sinotrans, CMG, CAMCe, Gentrans, Kerry Logistics, CSALC, Lianyunagng Port Group, Zhengzhou International Hub, CRCT, CRIMT and others.