A freight train loaded with textile yarn departing from the cargo yard of Zhangjiagang North Station for Xiaotang West Station in Guangdong province, on Nov 28. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]
The cargo yard of Zhangjiagang North Station was put into operation on Nov 28, when a freight train loaded with textile yarn departed for Guangdong province.
Located along the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Railway and adjacent to Zhangjiagang Port, the yard connects the Yangtze River waterway with the national railway network.
Covering approximately 123,000 square meters, the facility functions as a comprehensive logistics hub that includes loading, unloading, storage, and transshipment services. It is designed to handle a wide range of cargo types, including steel, grain, building materials, and agricultural products, with an annual capacity of about 3 million metric tons.
The opening of the new base has drastically transformed corporate transportation. "Previously, delivering coke from Shandong province took a week by road. Now, rail transport guarantees direct delivery within 24 hours, greatly improving supply chain stability," said Qian Yiqun, vice-president of Yongzhuo Holding.
Besides cost reduction and efficiency improvement, this freight line also serves as a "green corridor". It connects seamlessly with ports, allowing rail-water intermodal transport, with an estimated annual shift of 800,000 tons from road to rail, resulting in over 12,000 tons of carbon emission reduction and supporting green development.