On Time Express Ltd – China-Europe Railway Express Logistic Services

With its strategic location at the heart of Asia, state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced IT application and extensive land, sea and air transport networks, Hong Kong has long been a global logistics and supply chain hub and a gateway for Chinese mainland enterprises to explore Belt and Road opportunities.

An international logistics services provider based in Hong Kong, On Time Express Ltd (OTEL)’s  business includes air freight, sea freight, warehousing, delivery, supply management and supply chain consultancy. As the China-Europe Railway Express (CR Express) freight transportation service matures, OTEL’s rail services are also improving, providing a more convenient and environmentally-friendly logistics solution in addition to air and sea freight services to its clients. 

Launched in 2011, CR Express offers fast-track cargo rail transportation services between China and Europe. As a key to facilitating Belt and Road connectivity, CR Express has been renowned for its shorter lead time, high freight volume, convenience, safety and efficiency. CR Express now provides services to up to 10 Chinese mainland cities, including Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Suzhou, Yiwu, Hefei and Harbin. Its network has also expanded to major economic zones in 11 different countries, including Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany, Cherkessk and Chelyabinsk in Russia, Pardubice in Czech Republic, Warsaw, Łódź and Małaszewicze in Poland, Madrid in Spain, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Brest in Belarus.

In recent years, the number of returning trains has increased significantly and some of the routes started providing regular services including: Hamburg, Germany to Wuhan; Brest, Belarus to Suzhou; and Madrid, Spain to Yiwu. This presents a new logistics model for the import of European cargo and reduces operational costs for the cargo rail operator. The variety of freight shipped via CR Express has expanded from electronics such as mobile phones and computers to clothing, vehicles, auto parts, food, wine, coffee beans and wood. 

Working together with CR Express, OTEL provides a one-stop solution for FCL (full container load), LCL (less container load), customs clearance, trailer transport, warehousing, insurance, overseas door-to-door delivery and container return at different locations. OTEL has long-term storage agreements with warehouses at Chinese ports such as Zhengzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Suzhou, Yiwu and Xian. With overseas truck services covering Europe and the Middle Asia, onward truck transhipment is also provided in hub areas including Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany, Warsaw and Małaszewicze in Poland, and Brest in Belarus. International clients of OTEL ship items including clothing, auto parts, industrial products and electronics. As cross-border e-commerce business continues to flourish, OTEL has rolled out a tailored railway shipment solution to fulfil their e-commerce clients’ demand for direct, low quantity and high frequency transactions.