Vadodara, August 22: Indian Railways has successfully operated its first double-stack long-haul container train from Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai to the GCT terminal of CONCOR located in Varana, Vadodara division. The train covered a distance of approximately 422 kilometers while carrying 360 TEU containers.
The train departed from JNPT at 7 PM on August 21 and traveled along the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. This operation is considered a significant step towards enhancing container freight capacity in a single rail journey.
The long-haul train was operated by connecting two double-stack rakes. The front rake traveled with a load structure of 45+1 on the JNPT-Vadodara route, pulled by locomotive number 60311, with a total weight of 1,817 tons. The rear rake also had a load structure of 45+1, pulled by locomotive number 24690, weighing 2,105 tons. Together, both rakes transported a total of 360 TEU containers, with each rake carrying 180 TEU containers.
This initiative aims to expedite and enhance the efficiency of container evacuation from JNPT and other freight terminals. By sending more goods in a single train, congestion at terminals will be reduced, and containers will not have to wait for extended periods.
With increased carrying capacity, fewer rail cars will be needed to transport the same amount of goods, leading to better utilization of available rail route capacity, faster movement of containers, and reduced overall transport time.
This will also impact road transport. As this train is electric-powered, reliance on diesel-operated road transport will decrease. Carrying a large number of containers in one train will reduce the number of trucks needed for the same amount of goods, helping to lower diesel consumption, reduce road congestion, and decrease pollution from vehicles.
This step has been taken at a time when there is an emphasis on operating freight transport with greater capacity and efficiency on the country’s dedicated freight corridors. The successful operation from JNPT to Varana has demonstrated that double-stack and long-haul trains can play a crucial role in strengthening connectivity between ports and the interior regions of the country, as well as enhancing the capacity of rail-based container logistics.
My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.