Fujitsu Siemens turns to train to avoid air freight

In a move that could set an example to other vendors Fujitsu Siemens Computers has completed its first shipment from China to Germany by train.

The vendor has switched to rail because it is a greener alternative to air travel, cheaper than air and still quicker than putting the products on a boat.

In terms of the green credentials the 10,000km journey saved 2200 tons of greenhouse gases compared to air

The cost of freight has become an issue not just for vendors but also distributors with many looking at alternatives to avoid the impact of the sustained rises in oil prices that have occurred over the last 12 months.

In a statement, Bernd Bischoff, President and CEO of Fujitsu Siemens Computers, said that using the trans-Eurasian express train backed up its green commitment.

The train started on 19 September from Xiangtang in southern China and on its way to Hamburg crossed five country borders. The vendor has been running a blog on the train and its progress.