The first China-Europe freight train in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), running under a new joint customs-railway inspection model, departed from Guangzhou on August 18. The new approach has cut inspection time at the departure station from four days to two.
Introduced in the GBA for the first time, the model combines railway security checks with customs inspections. Previously, export containers for international rail transport had to undergo separate railway and customs inspections, increasing transit times and operating costs.
Under the new model, customs and railway authorities have established a joint inspection mechanism. At designated inspection sites within the customs-supervised area, the two sides share security-check and monitoring equipment. The model is expected to reduce the number of containers that need to be unpacked for inspection by more than one-third.
Sharing inspection information will also improve the efficiency and quality of railway security checks, helping speed up freight services, reduce overall clearance costs and enhance the competitiveness of China-Europe freight trains.
China Railway Guangzhou Group is working with customs authorities to expand the model to other China-Europe freight train stations across the GBA.
Reporter | Dai Bosi
Photo | China Railway Guangzhou Group
