Rail freight
Container trains from China along the Middle Corridor, Turkey and Europe over the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line, wagons from Russia and Central Asia. The cheapest way for heavy and bulky cargo.
Rail is for cargo that weighs over 20 tonnes and is in no hurry: metal, timber, fertiliser, grain, building materials, consumer goods in containers. A container from China on the Middle Corridor crosses the Caspian on the Aktau–Alat ferry. Cargo from Turkey and Europe comes over the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line, cargo from Russia through Yalama station.
What the service includes
- Ordering the wagon or the container flat wagon from the railway
- A loading and securing plan; supervision of loading, with photographs
- The SMGS rail consignment note and payment of the transit railways’ tariffs
- Space on the ferry and receipt at the port of Alat
- Customs clearance at the station or at Alat
- Delivery by truck from the station to your warehouse
Wagon and container types
| Type | Payload | Volume | What it carries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box wagon | up to 68 t | 120–138 m³ | Palletised and bagged goods, household chemicals, drinks |
| Open wagon | up to 69 t | 76–88 m³ | Rolled steel, timber, bulk goods in big bags |
| Container flat wagon | up to 60 t | One 40 ft or two 20 ft containers | Consumer goods, equipment, spare parts |
| Tank wagon | up to 66 t | 73–86 m³ | Oil products, liquid chemicals, vegetable oil |
| Hopper wagon | up to 70 t | 94–116 m³ | Grain, cement, fertiliser |
For equipment outside the loading gauge, our oversized cargo desk orders a well wagon.
Where the cargo changes hands
| From | Way | Entry into Azerbaijan |
|---|---|---|
| China | At the Kazakh border the container moves to a broad-gauge wagon; at Aktau it goes onto the ferry | The port of Alat |
| Turkey and Europe | The Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line; change from standard gauge (1,435 mm) to broad gauge (1,520 mm) at Akhalkalaki | Boyuk Kesik station |
| The Georgian ports | From Poti and Batumi on a container flat wagon, no transfer | Boyuk Kesik station |
| Russia | Straight through by wagon; the gauge is the same | Yalama station |
| Central Asia | A rail ferry from Aktau, Kuryk or Turkmenbashi | The port of Alat |
Routes, transit times and prices
Transit time is door to door. The price is where a quote starts for carriage from the point named to the Baku terminal; the exact figure depends on the weight, the size and the date.
| Route | What is carried | Transit time | Price | Departures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Poti–Baku on a container flat wagon | 3–5 days | from $1,100 / container | Three trains a week |
| Russia | A box wagon, up to 68 t | 12–16 days | from $2,900 / wagon | As soon as the cargo is ready |
| Central Asia | Almaty–Aktau–Alat, a 40 ft container | 9–13 days | from $2,400 / container | Once a week |
| China | Xi’an–Baku, a 40 ft container | 18–25 days | from $6,800 / container | Once a week |
Documents you need
- The SMGS consignment note: we fill it in
- The contract, the commercial invoice and the packing list
- A loading and securing plan for open wagons: we draw it
- A certificate of origin, if there is one
- The safety data sheet (MSDS) for liquids and dangerous goods
Frequently asked questions
What is the smallest consignment?
One container or one wagon. If you have less than 15 m³, it costs less to send it in a shared container by sea or as road groupage.
How long does a wagon wait for the ferry?
Usually 1–3 days. In winter the ferries stay in port when the Caspian is stormy, and the wait can stretch to 5 days. Those days are counted in the transit times above.
Who loads the wagon?
The sender does, to our plan. Our surveyor attends the loading, checks the securing and sends you the photographs before the wagon is sealed.
What if I cannot unload the wagon in 24 hours?
The railway charges for every extra day the wagon stands; the quote states the amount in advance. If your warehouse is not ready, we can bring the cargo to our terminal and store it.
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Describe your cargo and get a price within 2 working hours
From where to where, what it is, its weight and its size: those four are enough. The freight desk answers on weekdays, 09:00–18:00.
Call centre: every day 09:00–20:00