Indian Railways has taken a significant step towards moving larger volumes of containerised freight in fewer train movements with the successful operation of its first double-stack long-haul container train from JNPT in Mumbai to Varnama in Vadodara Division.
The train, which departed JNPT at 7 pm on August 21, covered approximately 422 km and carried 360 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in a single long-haul formation.
The operation comprised two double-stack rakes. The leading rake carried 1,817 tonnes, while the trailing rake carried 2,105 tonnes.
The significance of the operation goes beyond the 360 containers moved.
More freight in one movement
Double-stack operations allow Indian Railways to transport a larger volume of containers in a single movement. This can reduce the number of train movements required to carry an equivalent volume of freight and enable better utilisation of available route capacity.
For ports and terminals, the model could also help speed up container evacuation and reduce the time containers remain at terminals, thereby easing congestion.
The operation can also reduce the number of locomotives and container flat wagons required to transport an equivalent freight volume.
A greener freight option
The movement also highlights the potential environmental benefits of shifting more freight to rail.
The train was electrically hauled, reducing dependence on diesel-powered road transportation. A single long-haul double-stack container train can carry cargo that would otherwise require many trucks.
Greater use of such trains could therefore help reduce diesel consumption, road congestion and vehicular emissions while lowering the overall carbon footprint of freight transportation.
The August 21 movement demonstrates what Indian Railways can achieve by combining double-stack loading with long-haul operations.
The larger question now is how widely this model can be deployed.
If such movements become more frequent, they could help Indian Railways move more freight with fewer train movements, improve the utilisation of its route capacity and support faster evacuation of containers from major freight terminals.
The first run has demonstrated the capability. The next challenge is to turn that capability into a larger freight strategy.
