China–Europe Rail Transit Times 2026: Real Data from 1079 Trains
Quick answer: Over the last 90 days, CDRD's busiest westbound lane, Chengdu → Małaszewicze, ran 116 trains averaging 17.4 days station to station; the latest 10 trains averaged 18.3 days (15–23), and 90% of all trains arrived within 22 days. All figures below are from trains that actually arrived, regenerated daily; latest arrival 2026-10-16.
Source: CDRD shipment records — 1079 trains. Station-to-station, calendar days, departure to arrival. Page generated 2026-10-23.
Last 90 days
| Route | Trains | Average (days) | Fastest | 90% arrive within | Latest 10 trains |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu → Małaszewicze | 116 | 17.4 days | 13 days | 22 days | 18.3 days avg (15–23) |
| Chengdu → Duisburg | 91 | 22.5 days | 17 days | 27 days | 23.7 days avg (22–30) |
| Chengdu → Budapest | 88 | 23.8 days | 17 days | 27 days | 22.7 days avg (19–27) |
| Chengdu → Hamburg | 72 | 23.4 days | 17 days | 28 days | 23.5 days avg (20–30) |
| Chengdu → Milan | 50 | 35.5 days | 24 days | 44 days | 36.6 days avg (30–44) |
| Chengdu → Łódź | 17 | 19.4 days | 16 days | 21 days | 18.6 days avg (16–21) |
| Chengdu → Tilburg | 6 | 24.7 days | 21 days | 29 days | 24.7 days avg (21–30) |
| Tilburg → Chengdu (eastbound) | 6 | 24.2 days | 21 days | 28 days | 24.2 days avg (21–28) |
| Łódź → Chengdu (eastbound) | 7 | 18.9 days | 16 days | 20 days | 18.9 days avg (16–21) |
Last 365 days
| Route | Trains | Average (days) | Fastest | 90% arrive within | Latest 10 trains |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu → Małaszewicze | 272 | 18.5 days | 12 days | 24 days | 18.3 days avg (15–23) |
| Chengdu → Duisburg | 227 | 25.2 days | 16 days | 32 days | 23.7 days avg (22–30) |
| Chengdu → Budapest | 200 | 24.8 days | 17 days | 32 days | 22.7 days avg (19–27) |
| Chengdu → Hamburg | 149 | 26.0 days | 17 days | 32 days | 23.5 days avg (20–30) |
| Chengdu → Milan | 118 | 32.5 days | 16 days | 43 days | 36.6 days avg (30–44) |
| Chengdu → Łódź | 50 | 21.8 days | 14 days | 29 days | 18.6 days avg (16–21) |
| Chengdu → Tilburg | 11 | 25.1 days | 21 days | 30 days | 25.4 days avg (21–37) |
| Tilburg → Chengdu (eastbound) | 28 | 24.2 days | 20 days | 28 days | 23.1 days avg (21–28) |
| Łódź → Chengdu (eastbound) | 24 | 19.5 days | 16 days | 23 days | 18.4 days avg (16–21) |
Route by route
Chengdu → Małaszewicze
Latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-10-01): average 18.3 days, range 15–23 days.
Last 90 days (116 trains): average 17.4 days, fastest 13, 90% arrived within 22 days.
Last 365 days (272 trains): average 18.5 days, fastest 12, 90% arrived within 24 days.
Chengdu → Duisburg
Latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-19): average 23.7 days, range 22–30 days.
Last 90 days (91 trains): average 22.5 days, fastest 17, 90% arrived within 27 days.
Last 365 days (227 trains): average 25.2 days, fastest 16, 90% arrived within 32 days.
Chengdu → Budapest
Latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-19): average 22.7 days, range 19–27 days.
Last 90 days (88 trains): average 23.8 days, fastest 17, 90% arrived within 27 days.
Last 365 days (200 trains): average 24.8 days, fastest 17, 90% arrived within 32 days.
Chengdu → Hamburg
Latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-18): average 23.5 days, range 20–30 days.
Last 90 days (72 trains): average 23.4 days, fastest 17, 90% arrived within 28 days.
Last 365 days (149 trains): average 26.0 days, fastest 17, 90% arrived within 32 days.
Chengdu → Milan
Latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-10): average 36.6 days, range 30–44 days.
Last 90 days (50 trains): average 35.5 days, fastest 24, 90% arrived within 44 days.
Last 365 days (118 trains): average 32.5 days, fastest 16, 90% arrived within 43 days.
Chengdu → Łódź
Latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-26): average 18.6 days, range 16–21 days.
Last 90 days (17 trains): average 19.4 days, fastest 16, 90% arrived within 21 days.
Last 365 days (50 trains): average 21.8 days, fastest 14, 90% arrived within 29 days.
Chengdu → Tilburg
Latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-05): average 25.4 days, range 21–37 days.
Last 90 days (6 trains): average 24.7 days, fastest 21, 90% arrived within 29 days.
Last 365 days (11 trains): average 25.1 days, fastest 21, 90% arrived within 30 days.
Tilburg → Chengdu (eastbound)
Latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-19): average 23.1 days, range 21–28 days.
Last 90 days (6 trains): average 24.2 days, fastest 21, 90% arrived within 28 days.
Last 365 days (28 trains): average 24.2 days, fastest 20, 90% arrived within 28 days.
Łódź → Chengdu (eastbound)
Latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-26): average 18.4 days, range 16–21 days.
Last 90 days (7 trains): average 18.9 days, fastest 16, 90% arrived within 20 days.
Last 365 days (24 trains): average 19.5 days, fastest 16, 90% arrived within 23 days.
How to read these numbers
- Station to station. Departure from the Chinese rail terminal to arrival at the European terminal. Door-to-door adds origin pickup, destination delivery and customs — typically several days at each end.
- Actual arrivals, not schedules. A train enters the data only after it has arrived. There is no forecasting and no filtering of slow trains.
- "90% arrive within" instead of "slowest". The single slowest train on a lane usually reflects a one-off customs inspection, a damaged wagon or a transload hold. The 90th percentile tells you what to plan for; the outlier does not.
- "Latest 10 trains" shows current performance, which can differ from the 90-day average when conditions improve or worsen.
- Eastbound lanes (Europe → China) are shown separately; they carry different cargo profiles and border sequences.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train from Chengdu - Małaszewicze take?
Based on 116 CDRD trains that arrived over the last 90 days: average 17.4 days station to station, fastest 13 days, 90% within 22 days. The latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-10-01) averaged 18.3 days, range 15–23.
How long does the train from Chengdu - Duisburg take?
Based on 91 CDRD trains that arrived over the last 90 days: average 22.5 days station to station, fastest 17 days, 90% within 27 days. The latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-19) averaged 23.7 days, range 22–30.
How long does the train from Chengdu - Budapest take?
Based on 88 CDRD trains that arrived over the last 90 days: average 23.8 days station to station, fastest 17 days, 90% within 27 days. The latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-19) averaged 22.7 days, range 19–27.
How long does the train from Chengdu - Hamburg take?
Based on 72 CDRD trains that arrived over the last 90 days: average 23.4 days station to station, fastest 17 days, 90% within 28 days. The latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-18) averaged 23.5 days, range 20–30.
How long does the train from Chengdu - Milan take?
Based on 50 CDRD trains that arrived over the last 90 days: average 35.5 days station to station, fastest 24 days, 90% within 44 days. The latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-10) averaged 36.6 days, range 30–44.
How long does the train from Chengdu - Łódź take?
Based on 17 CDRD trains that arrived over the last 90 days: average 19.4 days station to station, fastest 16 days, 90% within 21 days. The latest 10 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-26) averaged 18.6 days, range 16–21.
How long does the train from Chengdu - Tilburg take?
Based on 6 CDRD trains that arrived over the last 90 days: average 24.7 days station to station, fastest 21 days, 90% within 29 days. The latest 6 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-05) averaged 24.7 days, range 21–30.
How long does the train from Tilburg - Chengdu take?
Based on 6 CDRD trains that arrived over the last 90 days: average 24.2 days station to station, fastest 21 days, 90% within 28 days. The latest 6 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-19) averaged 24.2 days, range 21–28.
How long does the train from Łódź - Chengdu take?
Based on 7 CDRD trains that arrived over the last 90 days: average 18.9 days station to station, fastest 16 days, 90% within 20 days. The latest 7 trains (most recent departure 2026-09-26) averaged 18.9 days, range 16–21.
Are these door-to-door transit times?
No. They are station-to-station: from departure at the Chinese rail terminal to arrival at the European terminal. Add origin pickup, destination delivery and customs clearance — typically several days at each end — for a door-to-door estimate.
Where does this data come from and how often is it updated?
Every row is a real CDRD-handled train with its actual departure and arrival dates. The page is regenerated automatically each day from our records; the latest arrival in the current dataset is 2026-10-16. It is not a carrier schedule or a marketing estimate.
Why do transit times vary between trains on the same route?
Throughput at the two gauge-change points (Alashankou/Khorgos and Małaszewicze), seasonal congestion around Chinese New Year and year-end, weather, destination terminal availability, and occasional customs inspections or wagon changes on individual trains. We show the 90th percentile rather than the single slowest train, because one-off holds are not representative of the lane.
For live position of a specific container, use the tracking page. For a quotation with realistic door-to-door lead time on any of these lanes, request a quote.