Railways launches special container train service with assured transit time

By Arun Kumar Das

New Delhi, Oct 1 (BVI) Indian Railways has launched the first assured transit time container train service on a pilot basis between Delhi and Kolkata.

The first service commenced today, operating from Tughlakabad Terminal in Delhi to Kolkata via Agra and Kanpur terminals of Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR).

The special service is designed to ensure a guaranteed transit time of 120 hours, marking a significant milestone in the logistics sector.

The dedicated train will follow the route Delhi

– Agra – Kanpur – Kolkata. It will operate on a bi-weekly schedule, departing every Wednesday and Saturday.

A unique feature of this service is the hub-and-spoke cargo facility at Agra and Kanpur, enabling e icient cargo aggregation for a wider catchment area. Additionally, customers will benefit from the waiver of empty wagon haulage charges from Tughlakabad to Kanpur, further enhancing cost efficiency.

This pilot project is expected to provide multiple advantages to customers, including door to door assured and reliable delivery for time-sensitive cargo, a competitive alternative to road transport, enhanced connectivity for northern hinterland cargo, and priority benefits for early adopters.

It also contributes to sustainability by promoting a modal shift from road to rail, reducing the carbon footprint, and supporting India’s commitment to green logistics.

Through this initiative, Indian Railways and CONCOR reaffirm their focus on customer-centric, reliable, and sustainable logistics solutions.

The launch of this assured transit train service represents a transformative step towards a more efficient and environmentally responsible supply chain ecosystem.

According to the Railways, it is the first Assured Transit Time Train on the Delhi–Kolkata corridor with a transit time commitment of 120 hours from Tughlakabad (Delhi) to Kolkata.

CONCOR will facilitate door to door service with faster, reliable and sustainable service reliability. (BVI)