Global Ports, a stevedoring holding incorporated into Delo Group, Oktyabrskaya Railway (a subsidiary of Russian Railways), and Postal Logistics Company (a subsidiary of Russian Post) have agreed to develop a regular railway container service from China to Northwest Russia. A tripartite agreement was signed on 2 April in St. Petersburg.
The new service is planned to launch by the end of the second quarter of 2026. It is aimed at delivering mail and parcels, consumer goods, clothing, and footwear to Russia. The estimated transit time from China to St. Petersburg is 15 days. This saves nearly half compared with ocean shipping via the Cape of Good Hope.
Block trains will be routed from Hunchun in China via the Kamyshovaya border crossing into the Russian Federation. The line will advance northwest along the Trans-Siberian mainline, using the Vladivostok-Moscow route. St. Petersburg is positioned as a hub for distribution to Baltic markets and Northern Europe. Delo Group's terminal infrastructure, Russian Railways' rail network, and Russian Post's distribution capacity together provide an integrated end-to-end service. Rising e-commerce volumes and Russian consumer demand for Chinese goods form the basis for the service's long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
1. Global Ports, Oktyabrskaya Railway, and Russian Post agreed on a China-St. Petersburg rail service.
2. The tripartite agreement was signed on 2 April in St. Petersburg.
3. The new service will launch by end of Q2 2026; estimated transit time is 15 days.
4. The service will carry mail, consumer goods, clothing, and footwear.
5. Block trains will run from Hunchun via the Kamyshovaya border crossing into Russia.
