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This ignores the fact that train lines crossing multiple sovereign countries and their respective borders is more complicated to negotiate. If you're a country

by eyko 6y ago

This ignores the fact that train lines crossing multiple sovereign countries and their respective borders is more complicated to negotiate. If you're a country with access to the sea, you need to build a port, and ships, and you have access to global trade. In other words, most countries can cut out dozens of middlemen.

hef19898 6y ago
China to Europe is working flawless, thanks to Chinas new Silk Road. Same for for trucking.
- bkor 6y ago
  https://theloadstar.com/look-to-trucks-as-china-europe-rail-hits-delays-and-capacity-is-squeezed/ https://theloadstar.com/look-to-trucks-as-china-europe-rail-... “There can be delays of up to seven days on the route – and no one expected this to happen. We are now running up to 50 trucks a week from China to Europe,” The truck bit is because they're switching to trucks to avoid the congestion on the train. It's partly due to success, partly due to problems on other modalities (air+container vessel). Also "China-Europe rail services had been suffering from recent delays caused by military movements at the Kazakh-China border, and there had also been congestion issues at the Poland-Belarus border hub of Malaszewicze." Though you could also summarize this as growing pains. It's pretty normal and expected to run into issues as usage greatly increases. The article does mention that the cost was subsidized by the Chinese government. Not sure how much economies of scale would apply here (more usage, lower cost, less need to subsidize). 2020 had a crazy jump on the amount of cargo on Chine-Europe by rail. Strategically, it's an issue that all countries between origin and destination can influence the movement of goods with this method. It's less of a factor with shipping.
  - billfruit 6y ago
    I'm not sure of the route, but does the rail line needs to traverse lake Van through a ferry, since there is no rail connectivity around the lake? Or may be they are taking the norther routes through Russia.

by eyko 6y ago

hef19898 6y ago

China to Europe is working flawless, thanks to Chinas new Silk Road. Same for for trucking.

bkor 6y ago
https://theloadstar.com/look-to-trucks-as-china-europe-rail-hits-delays-and-capacity-is-squeezed/ https://theloadstar.com/look-to-trucks-as-china-europe-rail-... “There can be delays of up to seven days on the route – and no one expected this to happen. We are now running up to 50 trucks a week from China to Europe,” The truck bit is because they're switching to trucks to avoid the congestion on the train. It's partly due to success, partly due to problems on other modalities (air+container vessel). Also "China-Europe rail services had been suffering from recent delays caused by military movements at the Kazakh-China border, and there had also been congestion issues at the Poland-Belarus border hub of Malaszewicze." Though you could also summarize this as growing pains. It's pretty normal and expected to run into issues as usage greatly increases. The article does mention that the cost was subsidized by the Chinese government. Not sure how much economies of scale would apply here (more usage, lower cost, less need to subsidize). 2020 had a crazy jump on the amount of cargo on Chine-Europe by rail. Strategically, it's an issue that all countries between origin and destination can influence the movement of goods with this method. It's less of a factor with shipping.
- billfruit 6y ago
  I'm not sure of the route, but does the rail line needs to traverse lake Van through a ferry, since there is no rail connectivity around the lake? Or may be they are taking the norther routes through Russia.