Rail freight
Rail transshipment between 1520 mm and 1435 mm gauge
Cargo cannot cross from the Ukrainian rail network to the European one in the same wagon: the two run on different gauges. At our Dornești terminal we transship between 1520 mm broad gauge and 1435 mm standard gauge in both directions, with mobile cranes on site for heavy and oversized pieces.
Why transshipment is necessary
Ukraine and the CIS use a track gauge of 1520 mm. The European Union, Romania included, uses 1435 mm. A wagon's wheels are fixed to the axle at a spacing that suits one gauge only, so a loaded wagon simply cannot continue across the break.
There are two ways through: move the cargo into a wagon of the other gauge — transshipment — or lift the wagon and change its bogies. We work by transshipment.
The full background, including why the two standards exist, is in our guide to 1435 mm vs 1520 mm.
What we do at Dornești
The terminal has tracks on both gauges, so wagons from either network can be received directly. From there cargo can move:
- Wagon to wagon — broad gauge to standard gauge, or the reverse.
- Wagon to truck — for onward road distribution in the EU.
- Truck to wagon — for consignments being sent east.
- Wagon to storage — including our bonded warehouse for goods awaiting clearance.
Heavy and oversized cargo
This is where we differ from a pure terminal operator: our 50 and 80 tonne mobile cranes are in the same yard as the tracks.
For steel, machinery, project cargo and pieces that cannot be handled with a forklift or a grab, the crane lifts directly between wagon and truck. Nothing is subcontracted, nothing moves between locations, and there is one company answering for the operation.
For heavy pieces we will ask for the weight, the dimensions and the lifting points before the wagon arrives — that conversation before arrival is usually what decides whether the operation takes hours or days.
Cargo we handle
- Metal and steel, including rolled products
- Timber and lumber
- Construction materials
- Grain and agricultural products
- Equipment, machinery and project cargo
- General palletised and bulk freight
What we do not do
We are not a customs broker and we do not give customs advice. Declarations, tariff classification and correspondence with the customs authority go through your broker.
We handle the physical side: receiving wagons, transshipment, lifting, and storage — including under customs supervision where the goods have not yet been cleared.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does transshipment take?
It depends on the cargo, how it is presented and what equipment is needed. Describe the consignment and we will estimate for your case.
Can you unload directly from a Ukrainian wagon?
Yes. We have broad-gauge track in the terminal and unload there.
Can cargo be stored between the two legs?
Yes, indoors or outdoors, and under customs supervision if it has not been cleared.
Do you handle oversized pieces?
Yes, with our own mobile cranes. Send weight, dimensions and lifting points.
Do you do bogie exchange?
No. We work by transshipping the cargo. If bogie exchange would suit your consignment better, we will say so.
Moving cargo across the gauge break?
Tell us the cargo, the volume and the direction, and we will come back with how it can be handled.