In general, journeys could last anywhere from a few hours to several days. In some cases, Jews were transported in sealed cattle cars without food, water, or bathroom facilities. As a result, many died during the journey due to exhaustion, starvation, dehydration, or disease.
In other cases, journeys were more humane, with Jews being provided with food, water, and access to bathrooms. However, even in these cases, the conditions were often still crowded and uncomfortable.
Regardless of the length of the journey, the experience of being in a rail car on the way to a concentration camp was undoubtedly a traumatic one. For many Jews, it was the beginning of the end, as they were ultimately killed upon their arrival at the camps.