Poland border closure sets up speed bumps on China-Europe railway: analysts
Insiders say closing of Belarus border spells trouble for users of the China-Europe Railway Express, and could put Poland’s transit hub status at risk
The sudden closure of Poland’s border with Belarus has already caused logistical disruptions for users of the China-Europe Railway Express, analysts and industry players said, adding that Warsaw would be risking its position as a major transit hub between Europe and Asia if it allowed a prolonged shutdown.
“We don’t know when the border will be open,” said Milosz Witkowski, a rail-freight director with the Polish Forwarding Company. “It all depends on Russia and Belarus.”
Lois Mo, commercial manager at the Chinese freight forwarding company New Silk Road Intermodal, said no notice has been given for when the crossings will be opened again.
“There must be an impact on the operation of the China-Europe Railway Express, because trains can’t come in and goods are kept in Belarus,” she said.