Cylindrical roller bearings used in railway wheelsets operate under high radial loads and dynamic conditions that significantly affect their internal load distribution and fatigue life. One of the key parameters influencing bearing performance is the radial internal clearance (RIC). In multi-row cylindrical roller bearing sets, even slight variations in RIC between individual rows can lead to uneven load sharing, localized stress concentrations, and accelerated fatigue damage. In this study, the influence of radial clearance variation between bearing rows on the bearing life of railway wheelset assemblies is analyzed. The calculations were performed using the ROMAX Spin software, which enables comprehensive bearing system life analyses in accordance with the ISO/TS 16281. The study evaluates how differences in operational clearance between bearing rows within the same axlebox, together with axle journal deflection and bearing housing stiffness, affect load distribution, contact pressure, and the resulting life of each bearing row as well as the overall system life. The results demonstrate that unequal radial clearances cause a uneven load transfer toward the stiffer rows, thereby reducing the overall bearing system life to that of the most heavily loaded row. Recommendations are provided for optimizing assembly tolerances and maintaining uniform operational clearance between rows to ensure reliable bearing performance and extended service life in railway applications.