Abstract: To investigate the effects of crosswind on dynamics performances of empty gondola cars in freight trains, the aerodynamic model of a freight train with locomotive and multiple empty gondola cars was established, and the aerodynamic characteristics of the train under different wind speeds and wind angles were studied. The crosswind spectrum was further developed based on the Cooper theory, and the unsteady aerodynamic loads applied to the wagons under side wind were calculated. Finally, the dynamic model of the train considering aerodynamic loads was established, and the dynamics performances of empty gondola cars affected by stochastic crosswind were simulated, and the operating safety threshold was suggested. The simulation results indicate that the front gondola car suffers from the largest side force and lift force among all wagons. The crosswind affects the running safety of empty gondola cars more significantly under the wind angle of 90°, and all safety indices increase rapidly with the wind speed. As the wind speed exceeds 20 m/s, the running safety of the empty gondola cars deteriorates rapidly with increasing wind speed.