CONTAINER TRAINS by INDIAN RAILWAY
Introduction Of Container Train Services From Chennai To Navi Mumbai
Southern Railway announced on 20.08.2021 that Chennai Division of Southern Railway , in association with CONCOR India Ltd., has introduced Container train services from Inland Container Depot (ICD), Tondiarpet, Chennai to JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust), Nhava Sheva, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra Shri. Ganesh, Divisional Railway Manager, Chennai flagged off the first rake of the container service from ICD, Tondiarpet on 18.08.2021 (Wednesday). Speaking on the occasion, DRM stated, “Logistics needs a dynamic and everchanging calling for cost effective solutions to remain globally competitive. Indian Railways, realising the EXIM trade demand for Container Trains, geared up to jointly operate regular Container train services in coordination with CONCOR from ICD Tondiarpet, Chennai to Nhava Sheva, in Maharashtra”.
This Chennai-Mumbai Container service is a high-speed weekly service covering a total distance of 1400 kms in 3 days thus enabling seamless flow of container traffic through the coastal areas of South-West. The weekly container train services operated presently would be scaled up to bi-weekly shortly.
With CONCOR strengthening its coastal shipping portfolio, the containers would be transported by sea route from Mumbai to United States. The transhipment of Containers, initially by rail and later by sea transport would significantly boost Exports and bilateral trade with United States and other European Nations.
Chennai Division’s freight indices will witness an upward swing with CONCOR’s rail-based inland haulage. Traders and Logistic providers will benefit from 50 percent concession offered by CONCOR in rail freight besides creating business opportunites and creation of employment in a large scale.
Double Stack Container: Goods Train In India
Northern Railways flagged off the first double stack container train between Patli to Mundra Port. This is the first double stack container train over Northern Railway and the second double-stack container route over Indian Railways.
Route :
The route followed by the train would be Patli, Ringus, Phulera, Latest Special trains List 2020, Palanpur, Samakhiali, Gandhidham and Mundra Port.The running of the double stack container trains on 1198 KM long Gurgaon-Mundra route.
Features :
The double stack container trains will be 19 feet high and run on non-electrified/ Diesel routes.
The goods that are expected to be carried in these trains will be cars, steel, consumer goods and medicines. So the pollution and road congestion caused by trucks and lorries carrying containers will decrease.The running of double stack container trains will have several benefits which will ultimately benefit the consumers.
Following are some of the benefits
- The operators of container trains will be given a rebate of 50% for top layer of containers thus reducing the unit cost of haulage.
- Terminal congestion will be minimized as the dwelling time of containers at terminal and ports will be reduced as more and more containers will be on the move.
- The rolling stock requirement of locos and container flat wagons will also be reduced substantially as double the number of containers will be carried in one go.
- The number of trains will be reduced as double the number of containers will be carried at one time reducing the strain of route capacity.
- The overall transit time of containers will also be reduced.
- Since the containers are non-conventional hi-cube containers 9’6” high, each train will carry 180 TEUs (boxes), this will help in their faster evacuation, thus lowering transportation costs.
The double stack container trains will be 19 feet high and run on non-electrified/ Diesel routes. The 19 feet high double stack container trains were first run on the on the Jaipur-Mundra port route in 2009. The earlier double stack container trains, which were introduced between Jaipur and Pipavav were of 17 ft height, as the individual container was 8’6” in height. With the commissioning of the Rewari-Ringus-Phullera section in 2009 and the adjustment of all clearances over the track right upto Gurgaon, it has been possible to make this route operational for double stack of hi-cube containers (9’6”). For this one foot-over-bridge has been removed at Patuadi, near Gurgaon.
The goods that are expected to be carried in these trains will be cars, steel, consumer goods and medicines.The running of the double stack container trains on 1198 KM long Gurgaon – Mundra route, will have a positive impact on the environment as the haulage charges will be more competitive than road transport, becoming the preferred mode of transportation for many. Thus pollution and road congestion caused by trucks and lorries carrying containers will also decrease.
- Double Decker Trains In India details and list are here.
