Delivering 636 high-value metro cars from China to Singapore

PROJECT OVERVIEW

CEVA Logistics in China has successfully completed a five-year multimodal project managing the end-to-end logistics and transport of 636 high-value metro cars from landlocked Changchun, China, to Singapore. Executed across 62 distinct shipment batches over the five years, each 39-tonne metro car measured approximately 24 x 4 x 3 meters. The comprehensive logistics solution included overland factory pickups, port consolidation at Chinese ports in Bayuquan and Dalian, specialized ocean transit, and final delivery to Singapore's SMRT Tuas West Depot.

Our customer’s business challenges

The non-standard dimensions and sensitive electrical systems of the rolling stock required strict structural load distribution and a careful handling environment. Operational complexity escalated drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic due to severe travel restrictions and changing local quarantine policies across multiple Chinese provinces. The shipments faced transport challenges, labor challenges and schedule challenges.

The Solution

To ensure absolute cargo stability over the five-year project lifecycle, CEVA’s project logistics specialists worked directly with the client’s engineering team to co-develop custom structural fixtures and support structures tailored to the cars’ precise weight distribution. The team produced physical prototypes, conducted trial installations and executed multiple rounds of structural optimization until a highly secure, repeatable engineering solution was validated.

For ocean transport, CEVA engineered a flexible marine strategy, chartering a strategic mix of dedicated breakbulk vessels and container vessels operating in breakbulk mode. Throughout the multi-year timeline, CEVA maintained a dedicated core team that synchronized transport schedules with the factory's production output. This disciplined project governance and transparent communication allowed the team to successfully navigate pandemic disruption, unpredictable coastal weather and complex cross-border customs.

Tangible Results

The seamless delivery of the final batch in May brought this historic, five-year project logistics program to a close. By maintaining operational continuity under unprecedented global supply chain pressures, CEVA successfully fulfilled its long-term commitment to the future of Singapore's urban transit. This project highlights CEVA's expertise in project governance and positions the company as a premier leader in project logistics.