What happens in Małaszewicze and why it shapes your transit time
In short
Małaszewicze on the Polish–Belarusian border is the key transshipment point of the northern route. Containers move here from Russian broad gauge (1,520 mm) to European standard gauge (1,435 mm). How fast this transshipment works and how well the connection into the European network fits shape total transit more than many days on the line.
A bottleneck that does not have to be one
On the northern route, trains from China enter the European Union via the Brest–Małaszewicze border crossing. Because the gauges differ, containers are transshipped here from broad-gauge to standard-gauge wagons. Małaszewicze is therefore not just a border but a hub for distribution across Europe.
What happens during transshipment
- Train handover and border handling
- Transshipment of containers onto standard-gauge wagons
- Re-forming trains by destination route
- Departure into the European network
Why the connection matters
A container that reaches Małaszewicze has not arrived yet. What counts is how quickly it gets onto a suitable European train. The carrier network lists the following transit times from Małaszewicze, among others:
| From Małaszewicze to | Terminal to terminal |
|---|---|
| Duisburg, Hamburg | 1–2 days |
| Prague, Budapest, Česká Třebová | 1–2 days |
| Munich, Mannheim, Milan | 2–3 days |
| Vienna (Krems), Verona, Trieste, Koper | 4–5 days |
| Bucharest, Belgrade | 4–5 days |
| Istanbul (Halkalı) | 7–10 days |
People on site
Stable handovers need people who spot problems before they become delays. Bahnoperator has an office in Małaszewicze, which enables a fast response when something shifts at the border.
What you can do as a forwarder
State the latest delivery date in your request, not only the preferred date, so transshipment and connection can be prioritised. Routes and transit times from Małaszewicze are in the Route Explorer.
Expert-reviewed: 16 September 2026
Glossary
- Single container Booking individual containers on existing network departures without commissioning a whole train.
- FCL A full container booked exclusively for one shipment, regardless of how full it is.
- Małaszewicze Transshipment station on the Polish–Belarusian border and the key EU gateway of the northern route.
- Northern corridor Rail corridor from China via Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus to Poland, with gauge change in Małaszewicze.