Rail freight uses trains to transport goods such as cars, forestry products, and raw materials. It is faster than road and ocean freight, but may require additional transportation by road to reach the final destination.
Various types of specialized rail cars, including triple-deckers, intermodal cars, and ore cars, are used to transport cargo along tracks. Freight transport options are selected based on cargo type and customer requirements, with potential for combined air, road, sea, and rail solutions.
Rail transport has the biggest advantage of being the most reliable mode of transport, as it is least affected by weather conditions such as rain and fog compared to other modes of transport.
Rail transport is more organized than any other form of transport. It has fixed routes and timetables. Its service is more certain, uniform and regular than any other mode of transport.
Its long-distance transport speed is faster than any other mode of transportation except aviation, so it is the best choice for long-distance transportation.
Railway transportation is economical, fast and most suitable for transporting heavy and large goods over long distances.
Railway transportation is a cheaper mode of transportation compared to other modes of transportation. Most of the railway operating expenses are fixed costs. The average cost decreases with every increase in the volume of railway transportation. Railway transportation is also economical in the use of labor because one driver and one escort are enough to carry more freight than automobile transportation.
Railways are the safest mode of transportation. Compared with other modes of transportation, railways are least likely to have accidents and breakdowns. In addition, railways can protect transportation from the influence of sun, rain, snow, etc.
The railway’s carrying capacity is huge and flexible;
The transportation time of China-Europe Express varies according to the route. Generally speaking, the transportation time from China to Europe is between 18 and 27 days. Although in theory some routes have shorter operation time, in actual operation, due to the existence of track changes, inspections and other links, the actual transportation time may be slightly longer.
Train freight Transit Time
This is a document that lists the details of the shipment, including quantity, value, and description. Customs officials use the commercial invoice to assess duties and taxes.
This is a detailed list of the contents of each package during transportation. It includes information such as the weight, dimensions, and quantity of each package.
This is a document that serves as a receipt for the goods and a contract between the shipper and the carrier. It includes information such as the origin and destination of the goods, the names of the shipper and carrier, and the terms of the agreement.
This is a document that declares the contents of the goods and provides information about the origin and destination of the goods. Customs officials use this to assess duties and taxes.
This is a document that proves the country of origin of the goods. Some countries require a certificate of origin in order to receive certain tariff treatment or comply with certain import regulations.
This is a document that proves that the goods are insured against loss or damage during transportation.
An export license may be required for shipping certain goods to comply with export regulations.
It is important to note that the specific documentation required may vary depending on the type of goods being shipped, the countries of origin and destination, and the carrier being used. Before booking a rail freight shipment from China, we always recommend working with your logistics provider or freight forwarder to ensure that all necessary documentation is in place.
International rail freight prices are affected by many factors, some of the main ones are:
1. Origin and destination: The distance between the origin and destination and the specific transportation route will affect rail transportation prices. Routes with longer distances are usually more expensive.
2. Cargo attributes: The nature, weight, volume, packaging method, etc. of the cargo will affect rail transportation prices. Heavy or oversized cargo may require additional fees.
3. Cargo quantity: The quantity of cargo will affect the cost, which is usually calculated by the volume or weight of the cargo. More cargo may require more transport cars or wagons.
4. Seasonal demand: Certain seasonal demand peaks (such as holidays or peak sales seasons for specific industries) may cause rail transportation prices to increase.
5. Duties and taxes: The destination may impose duties, taxes, or other related fees on imported goods, and these additional costs will increase overall costs.
6. Route load and capacity: The load and capacity of a specific route may affect prices. If the demand on a route exceeds the available capacity, prices may increase.
7. Cross-border transportation agreements and policies: Trade agreements and policies between different countries can also affect rail transportation prices. For example, tariff reductions or preferential policies under trade agreements may reduce transportation costs.
Types of goods suitable for railway transport: Railway transport is suitable for transporting long-distance bulk goods, piece goods and container goods. Railway transport has the characteristics of large transport volume, low cost and suitability for long-distance transport, so it is suitable for transporting large quantities of goods that do not require frequent loading and unloading. |
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The main Chinese railway freight stations on the China-Europe Railway include the following key hubs:
Chongqing is one of the important departure points for the China-Europe Express, with a complete railway network that can efficiently export electronic products, mechanical equipment, etc. to Europe.
Chengdu is another major departure point for the China-Europe Express, covering many cities in Europe. Export goods include electronic products, food, textiles, etc., and the import and export volume increases year by year.
Xi’an is located in the core area of the “Belt and Road” and is one of the hub stations for the China-Europe Express. Goods can be shipped from here to Central Asia and European countries.
The Zhengzhou station connects multiple China-Europe Express lines. The main export goods are mechanical equipment, electronic products and textiles. The advantage lies in the convenience of its geographical location.
Wuhan is an important logistics hub in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. It has good transportation conditions. Goods can be quickly shipped to Europe through here. Exports include auto parts and daily consumer goods.
Suzhou’s China-Europe Express mainly serves the Yangtze River Delta region, and its export goods are mainly high-tech products and light industrial products, directly reaching many cities in Europe.
Yiwu is a world-renowned small commodity distribution center. The China-Europe Express departs from here and transports daily necessities, light industrial products and other commodities to many European countries.
The main routes of the China-Europe Railway are based on the freight demand between China and Europe, connecting multiple international railway corridors. The following are some important routes:
– Main route: Starting from western China, such as Chongqing, Chengdu and Xi’an, passing through Xinjiang Alashankou or Horgos Port, entering Kazakhstan, then passing through Russia and Belarus, and finally arriving at major European cities such as Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany.
– Advantages: This route runs through Central Asia and Russia. The route is long, but it can serve multiple countries.
– Main route: Starting from central China, such as Zhengzhou and Wuhan, entering Mongolia through the Erenhot Port, then entering Russia, and then heading west to European destinations, such as Malaszewicze in Poland and Hamburg in Germany.
– Advantages: This route is relatively straight and suitable for the transportation of large quantities of goods.
– Main route: Starting from eastern China, such as Yiwu, Suzhou, Shanghai, Qingdao, etc., entering the Russian Far East through Manchuria or Suifenhe Port, and then westward through Russia to major European cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw, etc.
– Advantages: This route is suitable for exporting light industrial products and high-tech products from the eastern coastal areas. The route is long but covers a wide area.
– Main route: Starting from southwestern China (such as Chongqing and Chengdu), entering Southeast Asian countries through Guangxi or Yunnan, and then connecting to the European market through sea-rail transport. This route helps to further expand trade with Southeast Asia and South Asia.
– Advantages: Connecting to the South Asian market
The end points of these routes are usually distributed in major logistics hub cities in Europe, such as Duisburg and Hamburg in Germany, Malaszewicze in Poland, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and Paris in France. These routes have become important logistics channels under the “Belt and Road” initiative, promoting trade between China and Europe.
China-Europe Railway
(Rail Freight DAP Service for Grey Board)
For customers shipping large volumes of industrial materials to Europe, railway transport offers a strong balance between cost and transit time. In this project, one 40HQ container of grey board on 74 pallets was shipped from Zhengzhou to Małaszewicze, Poland.
To ensure safety, pallets were evenly loaded and securely wrapped. Cross-lashing belts were applied inside the container to prevent shifting, with additional reinforcement at the front and rear to reduce movement during transit.
After arrival, the cargo moved under T1 customs transit and was delivered by truck to the consignee, providing a reliable door-to-door solution with faster transit than ocean freight.
(Rail Transportation for Transformer Board)
A manufacturer exporting transformer insulation boards required a stable solution for regular shipments to Europe. We arranged a full-container railway service from Chengdu to Prague via the China-Europe Railway Express network.
To ensure cargo safety, the goods were securely stacked on pallets and fully wrapped. Internal lashing belts were applied to fix the cargo in place, with additional blocking and support at the base to prevent shifting during transit. Compared with sea freight, the railway solution provided faster transit and better schedule reliability, helping the customer improve supply chain efficiency.
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