New Rail-Sea Intermodal Service Connects Southwest China to Central Asian Markets

The Chongqing–Alashankou–Caspian corridor offers a cost-effective alternative for inland-built vehicles, cutting inland trucking mileage by up to 1,800 km.

A new rail-sea intermodal service now connects vehicle consolidation hubs in southwest China, including Chongqing and Chengdu, with Central Asian markets via the Alashankou border crossing and Caspian ferry connections.

The corridor is designed for vehicles built by southwestern manufacturers, such as Changan and Deepal, eliminating up to 1,800 kilometers of inland trucking previously required to reach coastal ro-ro terminals.

Transit time to Tashkent and Almaty is approximately 16 to 21 days, with containerized transport protecting vehicles from road debris and weather exposure.

Sieton Group is an early adopter of the service, having completed three pilot shipments with zero damage claims, and now offers the corridor as a standard option to Central Asian dealer partners.

The service also supports 40-foot containers with reinforced vehicle racking, allowing two sedans or one SUV plus spare-parts cargo per container.