Railway logistics in Russia + list of terminals

Railway logistics in Russia plays an extremely important role, servicing huge volumes of cargo transportation over huge distances. Railways cross the entire country from the western borders to the eastern coast, linking major cities, industrial centers, ports and industrial areas. Railway terminals ensure the rapid and efficient distribution of goods within the country and facilitate the development of international trade. Thanks to them, Russia can integrate into global logistics chains, ensuring the delivery of goods from Europe to Asia and back.

Next, we look at the country’s major rail terminals, their infrastructure and the services they provide. 

The largest railway terminals in Russia

1. Selyatino railway terminal (Moscow region)

• Description 

The Selyatino terminal, located in the Moscow region, is the most important logistics hub for processing and distribution of container cargo both on the domestic market and on international routes. The proximity to Moscow and the connection with the main highways allow to quickly redistribute goods to the regions and for export.

• Volume of transshipment: about 500,000 TEU per year.
• Main areas: domestic routes and international transportation to Europe and Asia.
• Logistics and services  

The terminal offers a wide range of services:

- Loading and unloading of containers;

Storage and storage in protected warehouses;

Inspection, repair and maintenance of containers;

- Customs clearance;

Transportation to the final destination.

2. Railway terminal ExpoTrans (Yekaterinburg)

• Description 

ExpoTrans in Yekaterinburg is the main logistics center for the Urals, connecting the eastern and western regions of Russia, as well as the neighboring countries of Europe and Asia.

• Volume of transshipment: over 350,000 TEU per year.
• Main areas: domestic transportation and export to Siberia, Europe and China.
• Logistics and services 

Terminal services include:

- Open and covered warehouses for storage of goods;

- Customs posts for accelerated clearance;

Automated loading and unloading of containers.

3. Find the Eastern Port (Primorsky Territory)

• Description 

The Eastern Port is the largest terminal in the Far East, which is aimed at exporting goods to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

• Volume of transshipment: About 400,000 TEU per year.
• Main directionsExports of coal, ore and other resources to East Asia.
• Logistics and services

Integrated services include:

Maritime transport with integration into international shipping lines;

- Loading and unloading of oversized goods;

Access to domestic railway routes.

4. Kotelnikovo (Rostov region)

• Description 

Kotelnikovo terminal is a strategic logistics hub in the south of Russia, supporting transportation in the Black Sea and Caspian regions, as well as in the CIS countries.

• Volume of transshipment: about 250,000 TEU per year.
• Main areas: export of agricultural products, construction materials and oil to the CIS and the near abroad.
• Logistics and services 

Basic terminal services:

- Loading and unloading of bulk and bulk cargoes;

- Warehousing and protection of products;

- Freight forwarding and cargo insurance.

5. Railway Terminal Logistics North (St. Petersburg)

• Description  

Logistics North terminal in St. Petersburg provides transportation of goods both domestically and for export to Europe.

• Volume of transshipment: about 600,000 TEU per year.
• Main areas: International transportation to Europe and domestic delivery.
• Logistics and services

Core services include:

- Multimodal transport (sea and rail);

- Refrigeration warehouses for perishable goods;

- Customs clearance and documentary support.

Terminals of Russia: distribution by region

The largest concentration of railway terminals is observed in the Moscow region and St. Petersburg, as these regions are key centers for international transportation. However, given the length of the country, major terminals are also located in the Urals (Yekaterinburg), the Far East (Nakhodka) and the south (Kotelnikovo), which allows for effective coverage of all major economic and production zones.

Today, throughout Russia, more 1,300 railway terminalsThis includes both large logistics hubs and small regional stations that help maintain logistics infrastructure locally.

Railway terminals integrated with seaports

Integration of railway terminals with seaports is crucial for ensuring uninterrupted trade turnover between the inner regions of Russia and international markets. These terminals help minimize transportation costs and speed up the delivery process by creating efficient logistics chains. The following are the key railway terminals in Russia that interact with the main seaports, as well as their logistics capabilities and directions.

1. Eastern Port and Nakhodka Railway Terminal (Primorsky Krai)

seaport: East (near Finding)
Railway terminal: Finding East Port
Main directions: countries of the Asia-Pacific region (Japan, China, South Korea)

The Nakhodka East Port railway terminal is one of the largest in the Far East, focused on the export of coal, ore and industrial goods to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Interaction with Vostochny seaport allows efficient handling of large volumes of cargo and sending them to international destinations. The terminal is equipped for transshipment of both container and bulk cargo, and provides quick access to sea lines related to East Asian markets.

2. Vladivostok Commercial Sea Port and Vladivostok Railway Terminal (Primorsky Krai)

seaportVladivostok Commercial Sea Port
Railway terminal: Vladivostok terminal
Main directionsChina, Japan, South Korea, domestic transportation in Russia

The Vladivostok railway terminal is a key point in the supply chain through the Trans-Siberian Railway and provides convenient access to the Asia-Pacific markets. Interaction with the seaport allows the terminal to provide multimodal transportation, connecting sea and rail routes. This is especially convenient for the delivery of container cargo, vehicles and industrial goods both in Russia and abroad.

3. Seaport of St. Petersburg and Logistics Terminal North (St. Petersburg)

seaport: Big Port of St. Petersburg
Railway terminal: Logistics North
Main directionsEuropean countries, domestic routes

Logistics North Terminal, located in St. Petersburg, is integrated with the largest port on the Baltic Sea, making it a central logistics hub for the export and import of goods. Thanks to the connection with the seaport of St. Petersburg, the terminal can serve container and perishable cargo, sending them for export to Europe or domestic destinations. Logistics Sever also specializes in processing products of agro-industrial complex, food and industrial goods.

4. Novorossiysk Sea Port and Novorossiysk-Expo Terminal (Krasnodar Territory)

seaport: Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port
Railway terminalNovorossiysk-Expo
Main directions: countries of the Black Sea and Mediterranean basins, CIS countries, domestic transportation

Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port is Russia’s largest port on the Black Sea, and the Novorossiysk-Expo railway terminal provides its connection to the central and southern regions of Russia. The terminal provides a full range of services for processing containers and liquid cargo, which is especially important for the export of grain, oil, chemical and industrial goods to the countries of the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions. Interaction with the port allows for multimodal transportation and speeds up cargo handling.

5. Ust-Luga seaport and Luga railway station terminal (Leningrad region)

seaportUst-Luga
Railway terminal: Luga railway station
Main directions: Europe, CIS countries, domestic transportation

The port of Ust-Luga, one of the most modern in Russia, is connected to the Luga railway station, which provides direct rail links to Moscow and St. Petersburg. The terminal serves container and liquid cargo and provides multimodal transportation for the export of fertilizers, coal, oil and grain. The port of Ust-Luga plays a strategic role in entering international markets, and the Luga railway station allows you to quickly direct cargo to domestic and international routes.

6. Kaliningrad Seaport and Kaliningrad Railway Terminal

seaport: Kaliningrad Commercial Sea Port
Railway terminalKaliningrad
Main directions: European countries, domestic transportation

Kaliningrad railway terminal provides communication with the seaport of Kaliningrad, which is the most important point for multimodal transportation to Europe. The terminal serves container cargo, offering fast transit of goods shipped from Russia to European countries. The Kaliningrad railway junction allows businesses to take advantage of the duty-free corridor across the Baltic Sea and reduces the time and cost of transporting goods.

7. Tuapse transport hub and Tuapse railway terminal (Krasnodar Territory)

seaportTuapse seaport
Railway terminalTuapse terminal
Main directionsMediterranean and Middle East countries, domestic routes

The Tuapse seaport in Krasnodar Krai together with the railway terminal of the same name form a powerful logistics hub for the export of oil, oil products, grain and other goods to the countries of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. The Tuapse terminal has access to railway routes linking southern Russia with the central part of the country, making it an important part of the infrastructure for the southern regions.