International Rail Shipping Guide
Everything you need to prepare a China–Europe rail shipment: container sizes and capacity, how LCL consolidation works, the documents you need, and what happens at customs.
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) |
Note: for rail shipments we currently offer 40' HQ containers only.
Shared containers (LCL consolidation)
Sharing a container — consolidation or LCL service — is standard practice for international rail shipping. Upon receipt of your goods at our terminals, the items are documented, palletized, and labeled with the terminal booking number; all freight is separated by cardboard partitions when loaded into the container.
We co-load with a small number of industry-leading consolidators. All our consolidation services run on scheduled departures, so an ETA is available to you upon booking.
Required shipping documents
The documents required for international rail shipping are:
Bill of lading / rail waybill
We provide this for every shipment.
Inventory / packing list
You provide it for self-service shipments; we prepare it for full-service shipments.
Passport or valid ID
Required for the consignee named on the waybill.
Customs documents
Destination-country specific customs forms must be completed; our customs agents handle this for door-to-door shipments.
Customs clearance
Upon arrival in any destination country, customs clearance is required. You will need to provide the rail waybill (original or express release copy), the inventory list, and a valid ID.
We include customs clearance with all our door-to-door services, handled by our own agents at major terminals such as Małaszewicze. Shipments limited to the rail terminal do not include customs clearance — in that case you would need to clear customs, pay terminal fees, and collect your goods within the allotted time.
What can be shipped
General cargo, chemicals (with a safety appraisal report), and new energy vehicles are accepted on our China–Europe rail lanes. Battery-powered products other than new energy vehicles, and dangerous goods, are not accepted by rail.
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