Maersk has broadened its cross-border rail transportation services, offering businesses a reliable and eco-friendly alternative for moving cargo across continents. This expansion connects key markets in Asia and Europe, providing a seamless solution for industries seeking efficient supply chain options.
Maersk’s cross-border rail service operates through an extensive network of international railroads, linking terminals across countries and continents. This setup ensures that cargo reaches both coastal and inland regions, benefiting from Maersk’s integrated logistics portfolio that manages end-to-end journeys without the need for constant follow-ups. A single point of contact handles all documentation and provides regular updates until the cargo reaches its destination.
The service covers various routes, including Asia to and from Europe, Southeast Asia to and from China, Central Asia to and from China, Turkey to and from Central and Northern Europe, and the Western Mediterranean to and from Continental Europe. This extensive coverage allows businesses to tap into multiple markets with ease.
One of the standout benefits of rail transport is its environmental friendliness. Railways contribute to significantly lower CO₂ emissions compared to road transport and help reduce highway congestion. Additionally, a dense rail network connects cargo directly to both hinterlands and populated areas, offering flexibility with frequent departures and the ability to reroute shipments as needed. The service also boasts reliable arrivals and departures, with options for guaranteed loading, helping businesses avoid traffic bans and ensure timely delivery. Furthermore, transporting large volumes of cargo by rail can lower the cost of goods to market by reducing working capital over time.
Maersk offers two main variants of its cross-border rail service: block train and single rail container. The block train option requires booking a full train under one booking, accommodating between 41 and 50 containers per train. This is ideal for large-volume transport, providing predictable transit times and optimized routes. On the other hand, the single rail container service allows for booking full container loads individually, with no minimum volume requirement and multiple weekly departures. This option also includes door-to-door service, covering trucking from the factory to the rail ramp and delivery from the destination rail ramp to the warehouse.
In response to evolving customer needs, Maersk has introduced new services to better connect Central Asian markets. A recent offering is an end-to-end intermodal ship and rail transport solution that enhances the efficiency of cargo transportation, particularly for consumer, lifestyle, and tech products destined for Central Asia. This service focuses on countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and serves as a foundation for further logistics offerings in neighboring countries such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The transport solution utilizes the Georgian port of Poti as the main gateway to Maersk’s global ocean network. From Poti, cargo is transported via rail to Baku in Azerbaijan, then across the Caspian Sea to Aktau, and finally delivered to destinations in Central Asia such as Almaty, Astana, and Tashkent through an efficient train network. To ensure seamless logistics, Maersk has established last-mile connections in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan through a dedicated trucking pool, minimizing delays and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Maersk’s commitment to expanding and enhancing its cross-border rail transportation services demonstrates its dedication to providing flexible, reliable, and sustainable logistics solutions. By integrating rail options into its global network, Maersk offers businesses alternative routes to maintain supply chain resilience and efficiency in a rapidly changing global market.
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