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Busto Arsizio, Friday 19 July 2019    The Xi'an International Port Area and Swiss intermodal operator Hupac launch their cooperation aimed at boosting rail freight transportation between Italy and China. Today, the first train Milan-Xi’an left the Terminal Busto Arsizio-Gallarate. This turning point for the intermodal transportation on the east-west axis was celebrated with very important international guests.

After a careful preparation, Hupac and Xi’an logistics experts set the starting shot for a train departing from the terminal of Busto Arsizio-Gallarate to Xi’an, in the province of Shaanxi in north-western China. During this event international guests participated: Lian Gui, standing vice governor of Shaanxi Province, leaders and authorities participating in activities in Shaanxi Province and Xi’an City; Félix Baumann, general consul of the Swiss Confederation; Silvia Volpato, director of navigation, intermodality and territorial development for the Lombardy Region; Paola Magugliani, assessor for culture of Busto Arsizio and Andrea Cassani, mayor of Gallarate. Hupac was represented by Michail Stahlhut, CEO of Hupac Intermodal and Alberto Grisone, director Development Russia & CIS countries.

The Busto Arsizio-Gallarate terminal acted as a logistical platform for this new challenge. In the afternoon, the first test train left the platform to encourage a new collaboration between Europe and China and to open the doors to the international market. The Milano-Xi’an Freight Express has a transit time of 18 days. The long-term goal of Hupac is a weekly frequency. For this trial period, the train will run on a monthly or bimonthly frequency.

Hupac pursues a strategy of developing the intercontinental east-west axis as a natural integration to its traditional markets in Europe. With branch offices in Moscow since 2011 and in Shanghai since 2016, and with the procurement of own rolling stock for the Russian broad gauge, Hupac has prepared the ground for new business areas in the East and Far East. The overall aim is to establish a big channel that connects resources, products and markets between west and east.

It is also a great opportunity for the Italian economy to trade to and from China. The latest agreements signed by the two countries and the strengthening of these connections will open up new growth opportunities in both markets.

Profile of Xi’an International Port Area

Xi'an International Port Area Haidebang Logistics Co., Ltd. is an enterprise in China, with its main office in Xi'an. It operates in the truck transportation industry. The company was established on 5 August 2010. It currently has 40 employees. From the latest financial highlights, Xi'an International Port Area Haidebang Logistics Co., Ltd. reported a net sales revenue increase of 23.87% in 2017. Its total assets recorded a growth of 74.95%.

Profile of Hupac

Hupac is the leading network operator in intermodal transport in Europe. For over fifty years we have pioneered innovative, reliable rail transport and thus made an important contribution to modal shift from road to rail. The network of the Hupac Group comprises 130 trains per day with connections between the major European economic areas as well as to Russia and the Far East. The companies of the Hupac Group have 6,900 rail platforms at command and operate efficient terminals at important hubs.