Dangerous goods by rail
under SMGS Annex 2 and RID
Rail transport of dangerous goods from China and across the SMGS area is governed by SMGS Annex 2, and in Europe by RID. A wrong UN number, class or marking means refusal or a border hold, so we classify the cargo before booking.
Not every container train or station in China accepts dangerous goods: restrictions apply by class and packaging type. We confirm feasibility at the booking stage.
Specification
Specification · Dangerous goods by rail. Standard terms · acceptance is confirmed after classification from the SDS
Service
- Type
- dangerous goods, classes 1–9
- Format
- container or wagon
- Options
- escort, insurance, customs
Terms
- Timing
- 3–7 days approval + transit
- Documents
- classification and SMGS data included
- Currency
- USD / RUB
Logistics
- Before departure
- SDS, UN number, compatibility
- Loading
- placards, SMGS note
- Destination
- release and handover at a DG-approved station
Price
- Base
- tariff with DG surcharge
- Extras
- escort, repacking — on request
Service flow
- 01
Cargo classification
From the SDS we determine the UN number, class, packing group and emergency card; we check the cargo is permitted on the chosen route and accepted by the station and train in China.
1–2 days - 02
Packaging and approval
We check the packaging and UN marks, select a container or wagon for the class and agree the shipment with the railways on the route.
3–7 days - 03
Loading and placarding
Loading respects class compatibility, cargo is secured, hazard placards go on the container or wagon, and the SMGS note is issued with DG particulars.
1–2 days - 04
Transit and border
We manage the cargo through the gauge break and border: transfer follows DG handling rules, and if packaging is damaged the emergency card procedure applies.
per route - 05
Release and handover
Customs clearance with the required permits, unloading at a station open for dangerous goods operations, delivery to the consignee.
1–3 days
Problems
The cargo is refused: wrong UN number or class in the waybill, the SDS is outdated or doesn't match the product.
We classify the cargo from a current SDS before booking and reconcile waybill, invoice and marking data.
The chosen train or station in China does not accept the dangerous cargo — the shipment collapses at the last minute.
We confirm acceptance by class and packaging at booking; if a container train won't take it we offer wagonload.
Incompatible classes end up in the same container or wagon.
We check compatibility against the tables before loading and split incompatible goods across units or shipments; the cost is fixed in the specification in advance.
Documents
The document set for a rail DG shipment. Data in the SDS, waybill, invoice and on the marks must match: any discrepancy is grounds for refusal or a hold at the border.
Incoterms
- FCA
- origin station; seller responsible for packing and marking
- CPT
- carriage to destination station paid by the seller
- DAP
- delivered at place, import clearance not included
Documents
- SDS / MSDS
- safety data sheet; section 14 gives transport information
- SMGS note
- UN number, proper shipping name, class, packing group, emergency card number
- Packaging
- certified UN-marked packaging
- Invoice and Packing List
- with the same description and quantity as the waybill
- UN 38.3
- test summary — for lithium batteries
- Permits
- import licences and permits — for certain substances by HS code
FAQ
RID governs carriage of dangerous goods by rail in COTIF countries, ADR by road. On the railways of SMGS countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan and China, SMGS Annex 2 applies, harmonised with RID. Classes and UN numbers are the same in all three.
A safety data sheet (MSDS/SDS), an SMGS note with UN number, class, packing group and emergency card number, and an invoice and packing list with the same description. Packaging must carry UN marks and the container or wagon hazard placards for the class. Lithium batteries also need a UN 38.3 test summary.
Yes, but only in line with the mixed-loading rules and compatibility tables of SMGS Annex 2 and RID. Incompatible classes are split across containers, wagons or shipments — we check this before loading.
Yes, but not on every train or from every station: in China acceptance of dangerous goods on container trains is restricted by class and packaging. We check feasibility at booking by UN number and packaging; if the container train won't accept it we look at wagonload.
Check section 14 of the safety data sheet (SDS): it gives the UN number, class and packing group for transport. If it says 'not regulated', the cargo is usually not dangerous for transport. If there is no SDS or it looks unreliable, we classify from the product composition.
Lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries are class 9: UN 3480 and UN 3090 for standalone batteries, UN 3481 and UN 3091 when contained in or packed with equipment. You need an SDS, a UN 38.3 test summary, compliant packaging and marking, and hazard placards on the container.