International Rail Shipping Guide
Prepare a China–Europe rail shipment with guidance on equipment, LCL consolidation, transit planning, documents and cargo acceptance. Confirm the route and service scope before booking.
Container sizes for rail freight
Rail shipments between China and Europe use standard ISO containers. For rail freight we currently offer 40' High Cube (40'HQ) equipment for FCL shipments, and LCL consolidation for smaller cargo.
| Specification | Inside Length | Inside Width | Inside Height | Door Opening | Cubic Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' container | 19'4" (5.90 m) | 7'6" (2.29 m) | 7'8" (2.34 m) | 7'6" W × 7'4" H | 1,172 ft³ (33.2 m³) |
| 40' container | 39'6" (12.04 m) | 7'9" (2.36 m) | 7'10" (2.39 m) | 7'8" W × 7'6" H | 2,387 ft³ (67.6 m³) |
| 40' High Cube container | 39'5" (12.01 m) | 7'8" (2.34 m) | 8'10" (2.69 m) | 7'8" W × 8'6" H | 2,686 ft³ (76.0 m³) |
The table is a general size reference, not a list of equipment we offer. Our current FCL rail service uses 40'HQ containers; smaller shipments use LCL. Confirm the actual equipment dimensions and loading limits before booking.
LCL consolidation and transit planning
LCL combines smaller consignments in a shared container. Confirm the origin cargo handover point, destination terminal, cargo details, packing requirements, consolidation arrangements, departure and cargo cut-off before booking. An estimated arrival time is a planning reference, not a guaranteed delivery date.
Station-to-station estimates cover the selected rail product and departure.
Door-to-door timing is confirmed per shipment after checking collection addresses, consolidation, the departure and cargo cut-off, customs arrangements and the receiving appointment. It is not calculated by adding a fixed number of days to the rail leg.
Required shipping documents
For commercial shipments, start with the documents below. This is not a complete checklist for every cargo or customs procedure; we confirm the exact requirements before departure.
Commercial invoice and packing list
Prepare cargo descriptions, quantities, weights and package details for review. Confirm any requested product classification or conformity documents with the appointed representative.
Importer details and EU EORI information
Provide the importer information and relevant EU EORI details for the agreed EU import procedure. The representative confirms which details are needed.
Rail waybill and transport documents
Confirm the applicable transport document, who issues it and the release arrangements for the selected service. A bill of lading or an express-release copy is not a universal rail requirement.
Additional supporting documents
Origin, conformity, safety and other supporting documents may be required depending on the cargo and procedure. Do not treat the starting list as automatic clearance or acceptance.
Customs clearance
EU import clearance at Małaszewicze can be arranged through our terminal agents, subject to the agreed customs procedure. A commercial invoice, packing list and the relevant EU EORI details are starting requirements, not a complete checklist for every shipment. Depending on the cargo and procedure, transport, origin, conformity, safety or other supporting documents may also be required. We confirm the exact document list before departure. LCL deconsolidation and onward delivery depend on the agreed handling arrangements and customs release.
For door-to-door and terminal-only shipments, the written quotation defines the agreed customs procedure, responsible parties, included services and charges. Confirm these arrangements before booking; the service label alone does not establish that every clearance task or terminal charge is included.
What can be shipped
Under our company's current acceptance policy, battery-powered or battery-containing products other than new energy vehicles (NEVs), and dangerous goods, are not accepted. NEVs require shipment-by-shipment review of the vehicle, documents, route and carrying operator's conditions before we confirm acceptance. Chemical products require a safety appraisal report and a separate acceptance review. This is our company policy; regulations and other operators' policies do not establish our ability to carry a shipment.
Ready to ship?
Request an indicative quotation and confirm the route, cargo acceptance, timing and service scope with our team before booking.