The conclusion is based on the figures of April, when trains from China to Europe have skyrocketed. This is an effect of the revival of the Chinese economy, which was paralysed since February this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. The most poluar route for trains from China to Europe runs via the Belarusian-Polish border crossing of Terespol-Malaszewicze.
Cargotor was cited in Polish media, talking of a historic record of intermodal transport through Małaszewicze. In April, 379 freight trains entered and left Kobylany, which is situated between Malaszewicze and Terespol, via the broad gauge tracks. This equals a total of 28 thousand wagons. 250 of these trains were container trains.
In April, the capacity of 15 trains on the broad gauge line track was achieved several times, which means maximum use of the possibilities of the current 1520 mm track system, the company explained. Daily, up to 40 pairs of trains run on the broad and narrow gauge tracks through the Transshipment District Małaszewicze.
In March, 377 freight trains ran on the wide track — a total of over 27,000. wagons. In comparison, in the same period in 2019, 335 freight trains (25,000 wagons) crossed the wide track.
Malaszewicze is currently home to a large modernisation project. A logistics park is under construction, with an area of 30 square km with the most modern track layout and solutions in the field of railway traffic control systems. This project is valued at just over 3 billion Polish Zloty (more than 657 million Euros). The project is financed by the state and EU funds.
In May last year, Jakub Kapturzak, Director Rail at the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure, talked of several other infrastructure projects on the agenda. PKP PLK is currently modernising the stations of Terespol, Małaszewicze and Biała Podlaska. Kobylany station should be expanded, nine tracks should be added to the Terespol broad-gauge station and ten tracks to the Biała Podlaska Towarowa station.
