Wagonload rail freight from China
single wagons and wagon groups
Wagonload shipments from China are for cargo that won't go in a container because of weight, size or nature: rolled steel, timber, machinery, bulk, large lots of packaged goods. We select a covered wagon, flatcar or open wagon and ship it singly or as a group.
The main risks in wagonload are securing and the transfer at the 1435/1520 mm gauge break. We prepare the securing scheme for the cargo and get it approved before loading, and keep the border transfer under control.
Specification
Specification · Wagonload from China. Standard terms · rate and timing for a given date are set in the order to the contract
Service
- Format
- single wagon or wagon group
- Wagons
- covered, flatcar, open wagon
- Options
- out-of-gauge, insurance, customs
Terms
- Wagon supply
- 3–7 days after approval
- Documents
- SMGS and securing scheme included
- Currency
- USD / RUB
Logistics
- Origin
- loading and securing per scheme
- Border
- 1435 → 1520 transfer
- Destination
- release, unloading, wagon return
Price
- Base
- rate per wagon: railway tariffs + wagon
- Extras
- transfer, idle time, out-of-gauge — on request
Service flow
- 01
Request and wagon choice
We collect weight, dimensions, packing and cargo code; select the wagon type, check the loading gauge and quote: railway tariffs, border transfer and wagon provision.
1–2 days - 02
Plan and securing scheme
We place the loading request in the Chinese railway plan, draw up the loading and securing scheme and, for out-of-gauge cargo, obtain approvals from every railway on the route.
2–5 days - 03
Supply and loading
The wagon is placed for loading, cargo is stowed and secured per the scheme, covered wagons are sealed; we issue the SMGS note and export clearance is done in China.
3–7 days for supply - 04
Border and transfer
At the border station the cargo is transferred from 1435 mm wagons into 1520 mm wagons, or bogies are exchanged; we check securing after transfer and track the wagon to destination.
by distance + 1–3 days at the border - 05
Release and unloading
We file the import declaration (DT), settle the documents at the destination station, unload at the public yard or the consignee's private siding and return the empty wagon to its operator.
1–3 days
Problems
The wagon is refused for carriage: securing does not meet the technical conditions or the axle load is exceeded.
We calculate the stowage before loading, prepare a cargo-specific securing scheme and get it approved by the railway in advance.
During the border transfer cargo gets damaged, packages go missing or lots from different shipments get mixed up.
One party responsible for the whole route, border transfer included: we reconcile packages and marks, request transfer reports and check securing in the 1520 mm wagon.
The bill grows because of wagon idle time during loading and unloading and unexpected station charges.
Before departure we fix the rate, the allowed loading and unloading time and the charge for excess idle time in the specification.
Documents
The basic set for a wagonload shipment from China. Rail uses FCA, CPT or DAP — the sea terms FOB and CIF do not apply to a wagon. Out-of-gauge cargo and non-standard securing require a separate set of approvals.
Incoterms
- FCA
- cargo loaded in the wagon at the origin station
- CPT
- carriage to the destination station paid by the seller
- DAP
- delivered at destination station or warehouse, import clearance excluded
Documents
- Contract
- foreign trade contract with its specification
- Invoice
- commercial invoice
- Packing List
- packages and gross/net weight per wagon
- SMGS note
- per wagon or per wagon group (with a wagon list)
- Securing scheme
- loading and securing drawing approved by the railway
- Out-of-gauge
- dimensions, centre of gravity, approvals of all railways en route
FAQ
When the cargo does not fit a container by size or weight — long loads, machinery, rolled steel, bulk. A wagon takes 68–71 t against roughly 26–28 t payload of a 40-foot container, and needs no container stuffing. For ordinary packaged lots under 20–25 t a container is usually simpler.
Under the carriage rules the shipper is responsible for correct stowage and securing, and the railway checks it on acceptance. We prepare a cargo-specific loading and securing scheme and get it approved by the railway before loading — without an approved scheme the wagon will not be accepted.
Yes. Wagons moving from one origin to one destination station for one consignee are documented as a group shipment. This simplifies paperwork and is usually cheaper than several single-wagon shipments.
As a rule, no: China uses 1435 mm gauge and Russia 1520 mm. At border stations such as Zabaikalsk or Grodekovo the cargo is transferred from the Chinese wagon to a Russian one, or the bogies are exchanged. We build the transfer into the transit time and rate from the start.
Usually 3–7 days after the request is approved. It depends on the wagon type and fleet availability at the station: in peak season covered and open wagons can be scarce, so it pays to book early.
It comprises the Chinese railway tariff to the border, the transfer charge at the gauge break, the Russian network tariff (plus transit if routed via Kazakhstan) and the operator's fee for providing a 1520 mm wagon. The total depends on wagon type, weight, distance and the cargo's tariff class.