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Rail freight
Rail freight: containers, full wagons and rail groupage
Over long distances and at volume, rail costs less than road — with a terminal at each end and a truck for the first and last leg
- China to Europe
- 16–22 days
- Track gauges en route, in mm
- 1435 / 1520
- Wagon types
- 6
- Full wagon or groupage
- Fixed timetable, no weekend bans
- Road legs at both ends
- Cover for the whole route
Rail freight · Europe and Asia
Your transport partner for freight by rail
Rail starts to beat road at around seven hundred kilometres and at volumes that fill whole wagons. A train runs to a timetable, not to traffic: no jams, no weekend bans and no driving-hour limits.
As a freight forwarder, we coordinate the move through partner rail operators and terminals, from choosing the right wagon for the cargo to the truck that covers the first and last leg.
- Where it starts to pay off
- 700+ km
- China to Europe, door to door
- 16–22 days
- Rail consignment notes
- CIM / SMGS
- Full wagon or groupage
- Truck at both ends
- Lower emissions per tonne-km
- CIM and SMGS paperwork
What we cover
What a rail shipment includes
From booking the slot to the truck at destination.
Full wagon or groupage
We book whole wagons when the cargo fills them, or space on a groupage train when it does not.
Containers on flat wagons
Twenty, forty and forty-five foot containers on flat wagons, lifted straight onto a truck at the terminal without being opened.
The consignment note
We issue CIM for Europe and SMGS for eastbound routes, including the stretch where both are needed.
The road legs
A truck from the sender to the departure terminal and from the arrival terminal to the consignee, timed to the train.
Slots and timetable
Trains leave on schedule. We book the slot early and tell you from the start which day the cargo goes on rail.
Cover for the whole route
Continuous cover across the chain, including transshipment and the gauge change, where the cargo is handled.
Why us
The whole chain, not just the part on rails
Three things that decide whether rail comes out cheaper or merely more complicated.
The first and last leg
Cargo reaches the terminal by truck and leaves the arrival terminal by truck. We arrange both ends, so collection and delivery happen at an address, not at a siding.
The paperwork changes with the route
Within Europe cargo travels on a CIM consignment note; eastbound it is SMGS. We prepare the right document for each leg, along with the invoice, packing list and EORI number.
The gauge changes at the border
The European Union runs on 1435 mm, while Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus run on 1520. At the crossing the cargo is transshipped or the wagon has its bogies changed, and that time goes into the plan from the start.
How we work
Terminal to terminal, and beyond
Four stages, the same for one wagon and for a whole train.
- 01
Route and terminals
We set the departure and arrival terminals based on where the cargo and the consignee actually are.
- 02
Wagon and slot
We choose the wagon type and book the place on the train, with the loading day confirmed.
- 03
Paperwork
We issue the consignment note, CIM or SMGS, together with the commercial and customs documents.
- 04
Train and delivery
The cargo travels by rail, passes transshipment where needed, and a truck takes it to the final address.
What we carry
What travels well by rail
Rail is built for large quantities over long distances, where a few extra days do not break the plan.
Shipping containers
Containers arriving from ports or from Asia, carried onward by rail to the terminal nearest the consignee.
Bulk cargo
Grain, coal, ore, aggregates and fertilisers, in open or covered wagons.
Steel products and timber
Coils, plate, sections and timber, secured lengthwise in open wagons.
Vehicles and machinery
New cars in double-deck wagons and heavy machinery on low-floor wagons.
Palletised cargo
Pallets in covered wagons or containers, for regular flows between the same points.
Dangerous goods
Carried under RID rules, in tank wagons or containers, with the required paperwork and approvals.
Wagons
Which wagon takes your cargo
The wagon type decides how the cargo is loaded, how it comes off, and how sheltered it is on the way.
Container flat wagon
Takes one forty or forty-five foot container, or two twenty-footers. Loaded and unloaded by terminal crane.
Covered wagon
For cargo that must stay dry: pallets, sacks, grain, packaged goods.
Open wagon (gondola)
For heavy bulk and steel products. Unloaded by tipping or with a grab.
Tank wagon
For liquids, including goods under RID rules, cleaned between loads.
Car-carrying wagon
Double-deck wagons for batches of new cars delivered to dealers.
Low-floor and special wagons
For project pieces, where the rail loading gauge along the whole route decides what fits.
How we pick the wagon
Which cargo goes in which wagon
On rail the choice is simpler than on the road, because wagons are standardised. What really matters is how the cargo is loaded and unloaded at the two terminals, because that is where time is won or lost.
The second question is the loading gauge. A machine that sits comfortably on a trailer may not clear a railway bridge, and that is checked along the whole route before anything is booked.
A guide, by cargo type
20' and 40' containers
WagonContainer flat wagon
Lifted straight onto a truck at the terminal.
Grain, fertilisers
WagonCovered wagon
Kept dry until unloading.
Coal, ore, aggregates
WagonGondola
Unloaded by tipping or with a grab.
Timber, steel products
WagonOpen wagon with stanchions
Secured lengthwise, loaded from above.
Liquids and RID goods
WagonTank wagon
RID paperwork and cleaning between loads.
Project pieces
WagonLow-floor wagon
Loading gauge checked along the route.
| Cargo | Wagon | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| 20' and 40' containers | Container flat wagon | Lifted straight onto a truck at the terminal. |
| Grain, fertilisers | Covered wagon | Kept dry until unloading. |
| Coal, ore, aggregates | Gondola | Unloaded by tipping or with a grab. |
| Timber, steel products | Open wagon with stanchions | Secured lengthwise, loaded from above. |
| Liquids and RID goods | Tank wagon | RID paperwork and cleaning between loads. |
| Project pieces | Low-floor wagon | Loading gauge checked along the route. |
Related services
If rail is only part of the journey
Rail is almost always combined with another mode.
Why us
Why work with us?
We are more than a transport provider — we are your long-term logistics partner.
Fast Response
We provide quotes and transport confirmations as quickly as possible, without bureaucracy.
Insured Transport
All our shipments are fully insured, giving you peace of mind regardless of type or distance.
Fair Pricing
Transparent and competitive rates, without hidden costs or unpleasant surprises on the invoice.
Complete Service Package
From pickup to delivery, we manage all logistics for you with full responsibility.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about rail freight
What matters before putting cargo on a train.
When is rail worth it compared with road?
Usually beyond seven hundred kilometres and at volumes that fill at least one wagon. Below that, the two transshipments at either end eat up the saving made on rail. Rail also wins when cargo is heavy relative to its volume — steel products, bulk — because there a truck hits its weight limit long before it runs out of space.
How long does China to Europe take by rail?
Between sixteen and twenty-two days door to door, depending on the departure terminal and on congestion at the gauge change. By sea the same cargo takes around thirty to forty days; by air it arrives within days, but at several times the cost.
Can I send less than a full wagon?
Yes. For smaller quantities we use rail groupage: your cargo shares a wagon or a container with other shipments. It costs less per unit, but it follows scheduled departures, so the lead time is longer than with a wagon booked outright.
What documents are needed?
The rail consignment note — CIM for Europe, SMGS for eastbound routes — plus the commercial invoice, packing list and EORI number for customs. Dangerous goods add RID documentation. We prepare these from the details you send us.
What happens at the gauge change?
The European Union runs on 1435 mm track, while Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus run on 1520. At the crossing the cargo is either transshipped into wagons of the other gauge or the wagon has its bogies changed. It usually adds a day or two, and we build that into the transit time quoted at the start, not along the way.
How does the cargo get from the terminal to my address?
By truck. We arrange both ends: collection from the sender to the departure terminal, and delivery from the arrival terminal to the consignee, timed to the train so the cargo does not sit in the terminal longer than it has to.
Ready to ship your cargo?
Our team will get back to you in under 2 hours with a personalized quote — no bureaucracy.