Time‐resolved photoluminescence measurements of electron transport are reported in InGaAsP/InP graded‐gap separate‐confinement quantum well laser structures with a steplike grading profile. It is found that electron transfer over the graded‐gap region occurs on a subpicosecond time scale. The upper time limit for the electrons to pass one step of 22 nm width is 250 fs. The fast transfer times imply that the electron transport across the graded region is not affected by the presence of the steps. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.