Rail Freight Services
Faster than sea, more affordable than air. Rail freight from China to the UK in 14–20 days via the Belt and Road railway network.
Overview
China–UK rail freight is the fastest-growing alternative to sea freight for UK importers. Via the New Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative), goods can travel from major Chinese cities including Chongqing, Yiwu, Chengdu, and Wuhan to the UK in just 14–20 days — roughly half the time of sea freight, at a fraction of the cost of air. Carrgo manages the full rail freight journey including origin collection, Chinese export customs, rail transit through Central Asia and Europe, and UK customs clearance.
Twice as fast as sea freight from China to the UK.
Significantly cheaper than air freight for medium-volume shipments.
Via Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, and into Western Europe.
Full container and groupage options available on all rail routes.
Chinese export and UK import customs handled by our team.
Rail freight has a significantly lower carbon footprint than air freight.
Goods are collected from your Chinese supplier and transported to a rail terminal (Chongqing, Yiwu, Chengdu, Xi'an, or Wuhan). They are loaded into ISO containers and transported by rail through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, and Poland, entering the EU at the Polish border. From there, the containers travel by rail or road to the UK, arriving at Felixstowe, London Gateway, or your UK warehouse.
Sea freight from China takes 28–35 days but is the cheapest option for large volumes. Air freight takes 3–5 days but costs 5–10x more than sea. Rail freight sits in the middle — 14–20 days at roughly 2–3x the cost of sea freight. For businesses that need faster replenishment than sea allows but can't justify air freight costs, rail is the ideal solution.
The main rail freight departure points in China are: Chongqing (most established), Yiwu (ideal for small goods and textiles), Chengdu, Xi'an, Wuhan, and Zhengzhou. Carrgo can arrange inland transport from any Chinese city to the nearest rail terminal.
Live Transit Data
● LIVE TRANSIT DATA — refreshing every 5s
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Services & Routes
Faster than sea, more affordable than air. 14–20 day transit from China to the UK.