MH17: Dutch experts ready to transfer bodies from 'death train'

Deputy head of the OSCE mission to Ukraine Alexander Hug, left, watches as the train car is locked, before departing. Photo / AP

The Dutch military plane that will transport the bodies of those who died on MH17 has landed in the Ukraine city of Kharkiv.

Members of the Netherlands forensic investigation team LTFO arrived at the government-controlled city's airport around 3am local time (12pm NZ time).

They'll work with other experts in the difficult task of transferring the remains of almost 300 victims from a Soviet-era refrigerated train to the their C130 Hercules.

The Dutch team flew in on the C130 from Eindhoven on Tuesday morning.

They will repackage the bodies if necessary and take them as soon as possible to the Netherlands for identification.

Investigators from the Netherlands are seen at a hotel follwing a briefing in Kharkiv. Photo / AP

The refrigerated train carrying those who perished aboard Malaysia Airlines flight 17 left the rebel town of Torez in eastern Ukraine at 7pm local time on Monday.

It was initially hoped the train could make it to Kharkiv in around six hours but it has reportedly been delayed in Donetsk which has experienced sporadic military conflict.

It's now expected to arrive later tomorrow. The Netherlands lost almost 200 people on MH17 when it was downed likely by a missile fired by separatist militants.

Five days after it was allegedly shot out of the sky, pro-Russian separatists bowed to a furious international clamour for the bodies and the plane's black boxes to be handed over to investigators.

The devices, which record cockpit activity and flight data, were handed to Malaysian officials by the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Alexander Borodai, in front of scores of journalists.