Automated sea-rail line launched

The launch of China's first automated dedicated sea-rail intermodal railway line will significantly reduce transit bottlenecks, slash logistics costs and link the country's landlocked hinterlands with global markets, officials and experts said.

The pioneering railway line, featuring a unique design that directly connects the coastline to the terminal, officially launched operations last Thursday in Xiamen, Fujian province.

"The sea-rail intermodal transport at Xiamen ocean gate terminal achieves a seamless connection between trains and ships, solving the persistent challenges of cargo collection and distribution," said Lin Zhicheng, vice-mayor of Xiamen.

"It will extend the port's inland transport capacity, enhance land-sea intermodal channels, and boost the construction of smart ports and the Belt and Road development," Lin said.

Stretching nearly 1.6 kilometers, the dedicated railway line boasts an annual designed throughput capacity of 250,000 twenty-foot equivalent units and 250,000 metric tons of bulk cargo.

Breaking from conventional designs where railways are built on the periphery of port areas, the new line is situated at a right angle to the coast, occupying the core operational zone of China's first fully automated terminal and terminating a mere 70 meters from the waterfront.

This engineering innovation allows containers and bulk cargo to be directly loaded from ships onto waiting trains. The setup transforms the traditional three-stage "train-yard-ship" transit into a streamlined two-stage direct connection system.

By bypassing intermediate yard transfers and secondary hoisting, the comprehensive logistics cost per container is 15 percent less expensive, while overall transit times are shortened by two to three days.

Additionally, the integration of an automated railway with an automated terminal enables a highly efficient "70-meter transfer and nine-minute interchange" operating system, significantly reducing cargo damage and boosting supply chain reliability.

Lin Ji, president of China COSCO Shipping Corp, highlighted the strategic importance of the project.

"Through a unified data interface and intelligent dispatch system, the railway line clears import and export channels for inland hinterlands such as Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei provinces. It is a landmark project serving Fujian's opening-up and promoting domestic and international dual circulation, as well as a national paradigm for zero-kilometer seamless sea-rail connections," he said.

Designated as a Class D railway line, the newly opened project is open to the entire market with transparent pricing, thus breaking down barriers for various market entities to enjoy inclusive logistics services.

Technologically, the facility is equipped with four automated rail-mounted gantry cranes and three parallel loading lines. In the port area, driverless container trucks navigate autonomously among ships, terminals and railways, ensuring 24-hour uninterrupted operations.

The complex's efficiency is complemented by an innovative customs clearance model. Authorities have implemented a "one declaration, one inspection, one release" policy.

The enhanced connectivity is expected to inject new vitality into regional economies.

Wu Chengzhong, deputy general manager of China Railway Nanchang Group, pointing to the longstanding port-rail collaboration between Fujian and Jiangxi, said: "The opening of this dedicated line opens new opportunities for strategic cooperation. We will continue to link all parties, open land-sea logistics channels and rely on the Maritime Silk Road to assist in dual circulation construction, ultimately empowering the high-quality economic development of the Fujian-Jiangxi region."

Backed by the terminal's 21 ocean-going routes covering Europe, the Americas, Australia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, the new railway line links global maritime networks with over 20 inland railway channels.