A fully loaded freight train departed from Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT) last week en-route to Kumming in China, Yunnan Province.

The rail connection heralds the start of a new intermodal service that connects the Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group terminal with the resource-rich Yunnan region and thereafter ASEAN countries via sea connection.

The rail link has a maximum capacity of 50 x 45ft containers with the weekly service - departing on Wednesday, - arriving in Kumming two days later.

Helen Du, head of corporate communications at YICT, explains:  import cargo such as equipment and paper can be delivered to Kumming via Yantian Port and with the same container train, tobacco and other agricultural products from Yunnan can be shipped to Yantian for export.
YICT operates the service together with China Railway Container Transport. A direct rail service to ASEAN countries is under consideration by the government.