Extra rail services launched to handle Singles’ Day shopping

China Railway Group Harbin Bureau launched high-speed rail services to move parcels from Nov 11 to 20, in a bid to speed up parcel delivery following this year’s Singles’ Day shopping promotion, which took place on Nov 11.

This year saw record sales for e-commerce platforms around the country, meaning that delivery services will need to handle an unusually high volume of parcels over the next week or so.

Over a 10-day period, nine high-speed trains departing from Harbin to Beijing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Dalian and Tianjin, as well as trains running on the Harbin-Qiqihar High-speed Railway and Harbin-Jiamusi Express Railway, will each reserve one carriage entirely for parcels. It is estimated that the initiative will help transport an additional 120 tons of goods.

In addition, other trains departing the railway firm’s stations will reserve luggage carriages to transport around 40 tons of parcels.

The logistics services are targeted at all e-commerce businesses and express enterprises in Harbin, helping them save time and improving efficiency.

Also, high-speed railway transport services jointly-launched by China Railway Harbin Bureau and SF Expressway will carry parcels for railway passengers and individuals who buy products at stores in Harbin Railway Station, Harbin West Railway Station, Qiqihar Railway Station and Daqing West Railway Station. The services are even available to carry excess luggage.

All items carried by these special services will deliver packages and luggage directly to customers’ homes.

And to ensure bottlenecks do not develop, the local railway bureau has even brought in extra screening equipment to ensure passengers and packages are screened as quickly and efficiently as possible.