Reposted from Metaforess Press.
With the aim of strengthening freight flows from China to Central Europe through Greece and the Port of Piraeus, and vice versa, the Greek railway company GFR Hellas (part of the Romanian Grampet Group) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation yesterday with the Chinese company Neptune Logistics Group.
By Fotis Foteinos
Metaforespress.gr was the only Greek media outlet present at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the General Manager of GFR Hellas, Klaus Kraetzschmar, and the Commercial Director of Neptune Logistics Group, Liu Lu, in the presence of the Development Director of GP Intermodal of the Grampet Group, Yedil Yelibayev, and the General Director of the Shenzhen Transportation Bureau, Han Liqing.
A representative of the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport also attended the signing ceremony.
Currently, GFR Hellas operates – periodically – freight services in Northern Greece (Thessaloniki–Gevgelija and Thessaloniki–Kulata routes), using 2 locomotives and employing 9 active train drivers.
According to company executives, in the coming days the company will launch its first regular freight service to Thriasio.
The company aims to strengthen its fleet with 6 electric locomotives coming from its parent company.
According to its business plan, GFR Hellas aspires to operate 700 freight services annually by 2028. This year, the number of services is estimated at 54.
The expansion of the company’s operations is expected to be supported through partnerships such as the one with Neptune Logistics Group.
Based on the intentions expressed by the Chinese delegation, Neptune Logistics Group — which already cooperates with the Grampet Group in Romania — is exploring the possibility of operating or leasing warehouse facilities in the wider Thriasio area, taking into account the operational capabilities of Thriasio I and II.
Regarding the two companies, and as stated in the Memorandum of Cooperation, Neptune Logistics Group was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in the city of Qianhai, China.
It is a key member of the “China–Europe Railway Express Transport Coordination Committee” and has been recognized as one of the top 50 private logistics companies in China.
On the other hand, GFR Hellas belongs to the Romanian Grampet Group, which is the strongest private rail freight operator in Romania, maintaining a significant presence in neighboring countries such as Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, and Slovenia.
In fact, during the first privatization tender for the then TRAINOSE, now Hellenic Train, the group had initially expressed interest.
