Frequently Asked Questions

Rail transit time depends on the origin and destination terminals, selected service, departure availability and operating conditions. Consult the relevant country route page for current, route-specific information. A station-to-station estimate does not include every collection, consolidation, customs or final-delivery step. Confirm these stages separately for the shipment; there is no universal number of extra days or fixed speed advantage over sea freight.

Compare written quotations for the same shipment, route, service scope and validity period. Rail, air and sea costs vary with chargeable volume or weight, capacity and handling requirements. There is no fixed rail-to-air price ratio or guaranteed saving. Check collection, terminal handling, customs-related charges and final delivery before comparing totals.

Emissions depend on the route, energy sources, load factor, equipment and the collection and delivery legs. Rail can offer an emissions advantage in suitable comparisons, but we do not promise a fixed reduction percentage. A meaningful comparison needs the same shipment and transport boundaries and a stated calculation method.

FCL (full container load) means your cargo exclusively occupies a container — usually a 40-ft unit holding about 67 CBM or 26–28 tons. LCL (less-than-container load) means your cargo shares a container with other shippers. LCL is the cost-effective choice for smaller volumes.

European delivery options depend on the destination terminal and the onward transport plan. Consult the relevant country route page and confirm acceptance for the final postcode and cargo. The rail leg may be followed by road or other connecting transport; delivery to the UK requires a connecting leg rather than a continuous mainland rail journey. Door-to-door availability is confirmed per shipment, not guaranteed for every address.

We can assess a door-to-door plan for your shipment. Provide the collection and delivery addresses, packed dimensions, gross weight, piece count and loading or unloading requirements. The quotation must confirm the agreed collection, rail, customs and final-delivery scope, included charges and any separately quoted services. Availability depends on the cargo, route and confirmed transport arrangements.

We do. Our own customs agents operate at major European rail terminals in Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Spain, and we arrange export customs in China on your behalf.

Yes. We can arrange the full export process in China on your supplier's behalf, including export declaration and documentation, so the lack of an export license does not block your shipment.

Yes. Provide the exact pick-up address and we arrange domestic transportation from any city in China to the nearest rail terminal — Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Yiwu, Shanghai, Ningbo, Chengdu, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Chongqing and more.

Most general cargo is accepted: electronics, machinery, auto parts, textiles, furniture, consumer goods and new energy vehicles, among others. Certain hazardous or restricted commodities have limitations — contact us about your specific product.

We accept bank transfer (T/T). Trade Assurance is also available for qualified orders.

Cargo cut-off is the deadline for delivering the shipment to the specified warehouse or terminal in the required condition. Document cut-off is the deadline for submitting the documents required for that departure. The departure date is when the train is scheduled to leave; these are separate milestones. Allow time for collection, consolidation, packing checks and export formalities. For LCL, confirm the receiving warehouse and its requirements; for FCL, confirm container loading and terminal delivery arrangements. Obtain the latest deadlines and booking status for the selected service. Missing a cut-off may require another departure, and a scheduled departure is not confirmation that the train has left.

The chargeable volume, chargeable weight and minimum charge for LCL rail freight depend on the service and written quotation. Do not assume one volume-to-weight conversion applies to every route. Provide the packed dimensions and gross weight of each piece, the number of pieces and whether they are stackable. The quote should explain rounding and remeasurement rules and whether collection, terminal handling and final delivery are included. Heavy, non-stackable or oversized cargo may need a separate assessment. Confirm the charging basis before shipping; an initial estimate is not the final settlement amount.

The arrival rail terminal is a main-leg handover point, not necessarily the final delivery city. Depending on the agreed plan, onward steps can include terminal handling, container collection or LCL unpacking, customs clearance or transit arrangements, trucking and a receiving appointment. Provide the final postcode, address type, opening hours and unloading facilities when requesting a quote. Compare the arrival terminal, the location from which delivery is arranged and the included charges. Terminal arrival should not be treated as the warehouse delivery date. Delivery to a specific address remains subject to shipment acceptance and the confirmed transport arrangements.

A missing tracking update does not by itself prove that the shipment has stopped, nor does it confirm that the original schedule is unchanged. Rail information may be reported at handover milestones, and the reporting time can differ from the time of the actual movement. Distinguish the last confirmed location and event time, the information update time and the estimated next milestone. If an update is overdue, provide the booking or transport reference so the service team can check the latest carrier status and any effect on delivery. An estimated arrival time is not live positioning. Do not post complete shipping documents or sensitive cargo information publicly.

Feasibility depends first on the shipment’s current stage, not just the difference in transit times. Before collection, compare rail cargo acceptance, departures and the complete transport cost. If the goods are already warehoused, declared or delivered to a port, check release procedures, any required amendments and costs already incurred. Cargo on a vessel that has sailed cannot be treated as a simple change of transport mode at origin. Compare the earliest executable rail departure, door-to-door delivery estimate, cancellation or repeated handling costs and the consequences of a stock shortage. Switching only an unshipped, critical replenishment quantity may be more practical than rerouting the whole order, subject to shipment-specific confirmation.