China Railway targets logistics market

China Railway Corporation (CRC), a spin-off of the former Ministry of Railways (MOR), announced Thursday that it will revamp its freight transport business in a bid to make gains in the logistics market. Many factors have hindered the growth of CRC's transportation business, such as complicated procedures for customers in making orders, as well as problems with deliveries and a lack of standardized rates for its services, said Cheng Xiandong, head of the transportation bureau of CRC. Reform of its freight transport is the first substantial move since the CRC was established in March. CRC's plans to become more streamlined by cutting red tape for customers and take more of an initiative to cooperate with its clients, which the former MOR failed to do. Procedures for customers will be made simpler, transportation will be tailored to customers' needs, charges will be standardized and a network featuring pickup and delivery service that goes from door to door will be set up, according to Cheng. The company will transport goods that range from coal and oil to cars and chilled fresh food. It will also take advantage of its high-speed trains to offer a delivery service that ensures arrival on the same day or next morning. "The freight transport reform is meant to help quicken our steps to be more market-oriented and enhance our adaptability in the market," Cheng said. CRC aims to usher in reform through reconstructing its freight transport business, said Cheng, adding that the company is aware of difficulties lying ahead. Investors are eager to cash in on China's huge logistics market. The country's e-commerce giant Alibaba last month announced an investment of 100 billion yuan (15.9 billion U.S. dollars) to form an integrated logistics network that will cover the whole country and allow for one-day delivery. By Thursday's close, the logistics sector retreated by 1.22 percent amid the weak performance on the country's two bourses. CRC was set up on March 14 as part of a cabinet reshuffle plan that split the MOR into two parts. The other part is a railway bureau under the Ministry of Transport.