Railways launches special cargo train service to ferry fruit from Kashmir to Delhi

By Arun Kumar Das

New Delhi, Sept 11 (BVI): In a major initiative to support fruit growers in Kashmir, Indian Railways today launched a special cargo train service to ferry their perishable products from the Valley to Delhi.

The Joint Parcel Product Rapid Cargo Train Service (JPP-RCS) will carry fruits from Badgam district in Kashmir to Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar where the country’s largest fruit and vegetable mandi is located.

“With the Jammu-Srinagar line operational, the Kashmir Valley has better connectivity. The Railways is introducing a daily time-tabled parcel train from Budgam in Kashmir Valley to Adarsh nagar station in Delhi starting from September 13, 2025, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the social networking site X.

He further said “Loading of two parcel vans carrying apples from Badgam to Delhi is beginning today.

The service will be operational on Adarsh Nagar-Badgam-Adarsh Nagar and and Budgam-Adarsh Nagar-Budgam route on a daily basis from Adarsh Nagar Delhi, on September 13, 2025 at 12.10 AM from Budgam on September 15 at 6:15 AM.

With the introduction of this train, fruits will reach the consumers easily and on time and in good condition.

JPP-RCS Train Services between Budgam-Adarsh Nagar-Budgam (BDGM-ANDI-BDGM) and (ANDI-BDGM-ANDI) train service shall operate with 8 parcel vans and one guard van and shall have an intermediate loading/unloading facility as Bari Brahman station (BBMN) of Jammu & Kashmir.

This service has been introduced for registered JPP-RCS Aggregators who can easily register online by logging in on online portal www.fois.indianrail.gov.in.

The train will originate from Badgam at 6:15 AM and is scheduled to reach Adarsh Nagar in Delhi at 5:30 AM the next day, ensuring the apples arrive early in the morning for the market.

Indian Railways has confirmed its readiness to provide additional Parcel vans and even increase the size of the trains if more demand is received. The railway authorities, including Principal Chief Commercial Manager NR and DRM Jammu, are in constant contact with state authorities, the horticulture department, and various Fruit Growers Associations and traders to ensure a smooth operation.

Indian Railways earlier moved the first freight train carrying Cement from Punjab to Anantnag in Kashmir on 09th August 2025.

These initiatives are expected to significantly benefit Kashmir industries by providing a reliable and timely mode of transportation. (BVI)