- Aim Is to Establish Cross-border Rail Freight Forwarding Services Linking up Points within ASEAN Region - Nippon Express (South Asia & Oceania) Pte. Ltd. (hereafter "NXSAO"), a group company of NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC., conducted rail freight transport trials between Kuala Lumpur and Padang Besar in Malaysia using dedicated trains running on Malaysian rail lines from Wednesday, September 20, to Friday, September 22, with the ultimate aim being to establish cross-border rail freight forwarding services linking up points within the ASEAN region. Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202310060727-O1-CxKy0v2z Map of trial transport route: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202310060727/_prw_PI2fl_L1qfHcYi.jpg Trial transport underway: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202310060727/_prw_PI3fl_64Sxcn3H.jpg Background to service development Growing demand for international logistics resulting from economic cooperation among countries in the ASEAN region and rising demand for consumer goods due to improved purchasing power have prompted companies to consider restructuring their supply chains. At the same time, social issues such as climate change, truck driver shortages, and soaring fuel costs have emerged, and the ASEAN region also faces major challenges as it undertakes specific initiatives to achieve carbon-neutral societies and to strengthen its transport capacity. The NX Group has developed an "SS7000" overland transport service that connects Shanghai to Singapore over a distance of approximately 7,000 km, offering regular consolidated trucking services. With moves toward carbon-neutral societies gaining momentum around the world, the Group launched a new intermodal transport service in April 2022 linking ASEAN and neighboring countries via international railways running between China and Laos. To develop logistics services that help further reduce CO2 emissions, the Group conducted transport trials using dedicated trains between Kuala Lumpur and Padang Besar in Malaysia. Details of transport trials in Malaysia: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202310060727-O1-18vdi7j0.pdf Future plans Going forward, the NX Group aims to establish an international rail transport network in the ASEAN region, utilizing railroads in Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, etc. The Group will also continue supporting its customers' sustainability management by developing and providing logistics services that combine all modes of transport as well as helping reduce CO2 emissions for the sake of establishing carbon neutrality and decarbonized societies. Nippon Express website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/ Nippon Express Group's official LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/ Source: NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC.