RESEARCH ON THE ROLE OF CHINA RAILWAY EXPRESS IN SINO-EUROPEAN TRADE TRANSPORTATION

Zhongzhen YANG, Yaozong WANG, Yu SUN

Abstract


To clarify the role and position of China Railway Express (CR-Express) as an innovative intercontinental transport service, we analyze transit time, loading/unloading time, and waiting time, while considering transport costs including freight charges, inventory carrying cost during transportation, opportunity cost of capital, and commodity depreciation over time. Using a multinomial logit-based modal split model together with Sino-European trade commodity and transport data, we calibrate the value of time (VoT) for nine categories of commodities. A sensitivity analysis is then conducted to examine how VoT and CR-Express service frequency influence the modal shares among sea, rail, and air for these commodities. The results indicate that increasing service frequency significantly enhances the attractiveness of CR-Express for paper products, textile products, precious metals/jewelry, and machinery/electrical products. Additionally, higher VoT for plant products, precious metals/jewelry, and machinery/electrical products leads to greater utilization of rail transport. These findings provide quantitative guidance for optimizing service frequency and targeting commodity classes to improve the competitiveness of intercontinental rail freight. 

Keywords


CR-Express; mode-choice model; frequency; value of time; generalized cost.

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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21622/MARLOG.2026.15.1.58

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The International Maritime Transport and Logistics Journal (MARLOG)

E-ISSN: 2974-3141
P-ISSN: 2974-3133

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Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT)

Alexandria, Egypt