March 17 2026

The first container train, named FESCO Katyusha Shuttle, has already arrived in Moscow

The FESCO Transport Group (part of the Rosatom State Corporation) Chengdu-Moscow route has been named FESCO Katyusha Shuttle in honor of the first giant panda born in Russia. The presentation of the new service format took place at the TransRussia exhibition, according to FESCO’s press service.

The event was attended by German Maslov, Deputy General Director of FESCO’s Linear Logistics Division; Zhou Hao, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the Russian Federation; and Svetlana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow Zoo.

The first container train, named FESCO Katyusha Shuttle, has already arrived in Moscow. The service connects the Russian capital with Chengdu, which is considered the “panda capital” in China. Since 2025, the Group has been implementing a project in partnership with the Moscow Zoo to support this rare animal species and the “Panda Diplomacy” program, aimed at further improving relations between Russia and China.

“The service’s new name increases its recognition on the Russian-Chinese route, highlights its uniqueness, and, to a certain extent, introduces our clients to the unique character of Chengdu—a key logistics hub in southwestern China. For FESCO, this is an additional opportunity to strengthen partnerships with Chinese shippers, and for clients, it offers a clear and stable transportation product with transparent logistics, monitored at all stages by our specialists,” noted German Maslov.

The Moscow-Chengdu rail service has been in operation since autumn 2024. FESCO uses it to deliver primarily consumer goods from Sichuan Province and other regions of southwest China to Russia. The route can pass through both Mongolia and Kazakhstan via land border crossings. The average transit time is approximately 28 days. Container trains arrive at Silikatnaya station on the border between Moscow and the Moscow region. Transportation is carried out using the Group’s own assets, allowing for control of the logistics chain at all stages and ensuring a stable service. Door-to-door delivery is also available to customers.

Source: https://portnews.ru/news/389153/