AsstrA Rail Transport: Quick, Safe, Green

International transport and logistics company AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG has been specializing in organizing rail transport solutions for many years. Small and medium-sized companies as well as global leaders in various industries trust AsstrA’s extensive experience and high-quality services. From 2015 – 2017, the total number of wagons sent increased almost 6 times to 4,500. Turnover from rail transport in 2017 amounted to 18.7 million euros.

The main advantage of rail transport is the ability to carry large loads over long distances, which are difficult or even impossible to cross with motor transport. Due to the high capacity of rolling stock, this transport mode allows the shipment of large quantities of goods in specialized wagons with minimum effort. Additionally, rail transport is highly reliable, with cargo typically delivered safe and intact. Rail transport is the most environmentally friendly transport mode and is possible in all weather conditions.

AsstrA-Associated Traffic AG offers a wide range of logistics solutions supporting rail transport. The company's specialists organize oversized cargo transportation projects and develop professional plans for loading and securing transported goods. AsstrA ensures the delivery of loads of virtually every type, including packaged, oversized, heavy, and those involving bulk and loose cargoes. The company transports metallurgical and paper products, including cardboard, printed items, and paper itself. AsstrA also offers optimal logistics solutions for the chemical, construction, and automotive industries, among others. The list of basic services includes the transport of consumer goods in refrigerated containers. Dangerous goods are also no exception. As stated by Dmitrij Mikelev, Acting Head of Rail Freight Division: "Rail transport of dangerous goods is carried out in accordance with special regulations using specific containers depending on the hazard class to which the goods belong. Our specialists guarantee quick and safe delivery appropriate for the properties of the specific product."

Every year, AsstrA strengthens its position in the rail transport segment. In 2017, AsstrA and a branch of company Russian Railways, signed an agreement in regard to payment for transit routes in Russia. "We now have our own payment codes and can pay railway tariffs from Brest to China, thus covering Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan," adds Dmitrij Mikelev.

AsstrA’s services also include cargo transportation in high-speed container trains on China-Europe and China-CIS routes. Deliveries are carried out through Zabaikalsk (on the northern corridor), Naushki (on the Mongolian corridor) and Dostyk (on the southern corridor). Due to the high demand for rail transport, there are 26 container train runs from China to Europe per week and 21 from Europe to China.

An important spot on the China-Europe / CIS-China route is Poland. As estimated from 2017 Eurostat data, the volume of rail transport from China to Poland amounted to around 86,000 tons. This is in third place after the Czech Republic and Germany. Thanks to its geographical location at the intersection of the main transport routes of Europe, Poland is a strategic transit hub. In Poland, AsstrA is represented in three Polish cities: Warsaw, which is the site of one of the company’s largest offices, as well as Poznan and Gdansk.

In the village of Małaszewicze, on the eastern border of the country, there is a Poland-Belarus border station for which professional reloading services are provided through the company’s office in nearby Brest. "The company's specialists in Brest organize border station transshipments from cars and 1435 mm standard gauge wagons to 1520 mm wide gauge wagons and containers. If necessary, we also provide third party wagons for technical shipments," comments Dmitrij Mikelev.

Other major border stations are located in the cities of Dostyk / Alashankou and Altynkol / Khorgas on the China-Kazakhstan border as well as in Zabaikalsk / Manchuria on the China-Russia border.

The far ranging coverage of AsstrA’s rail transport capabilities allow us to provide services in Europe, including the Balkans and the CIS countries. Such services consists of both the transport of cargo between the countries of Europe and the Caucasus as well as between the countries of Europe and Central Asia. AsstrA also works with Clients who are interested in transport between China, Europe and the CIS countries, as well as between Mongolia, Europe and the CIS. As an ambitious logistics service provider, AsstrA is constantly looking for new opportunities which could support the development of its services related to rail transport. "We are planning to develop the southernmost rail transport corridor through Baku-Tbilisi-Kars," emphasizes Dmitrij Mikelev.