MSC attempts to capitalise on growing use of Asia-Europe rail link

MSC’s new regular multimodal solution from Asia to Europe, which was launched in April, has moved its first containers via block train from Vostochniy to St Petersburg in Russia.

Some shippers are being increasingly drawn towards rail due to issues with getting space on ocean freight services caused by the Suez Canal blockage incident in April and ongoing port congestion in Europe stemming from the pandemic.

In addition, a growing number of shippers have been moving containers from east to west over land in recent years, including a surge in cargo originating in China bound for Europe via rail.