Assured transit-time container train service launched between Bengaluru and Delhi

Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna on Saturday (September 5) flagged off an ‘Assured Transit Time’ domestic container train service connecting the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Whitefield in Bengaluru with Tughlakabad in Delhi, via the ICD at Tondiarpet in Chennai.

The service, launched by Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR) in collaboration with Indian Railways, will transport domestic cargo in CONCOR-owned containers. The train will originate from ICD Whitefield every Saturday, providing industries with a scheduled and predictable logistics option for transporting goods to North India, according to South Western Railway (SWR).

The service offers a total transit window of 166 hours, aimed at providing a reliable, cost-effective and predictable freight transportation solution between major industrial production centres in South India and consumer markets in the National Capital Region.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Mr. Somanna said, “The ‘Assured Transit Time’ container train service was launched last year between Tughlakabad and Shalimar and was being introduced in South India for the first time.”

He said that the assured transit time would benefit industries and the manufacturing sector by providing greater certainty in the movement of goods. According to him, the scheduled service would help entrepreneurs improve inventory management, production planning and supply-chain efficiency, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector.

“The service would benefit not only Bengaluru but also several major industrial and manufacturing clusters in the surrounding region. These include Hoskote, Whitefield, Malur, Tumakuru, Bommasandra, Electronic City, Jigani, Anekal, Attibele, Dabaspet, Devanahalli, Peenya, Nelamangala, Hirehalli, Kunigal, Antarasanahalli and Vasantha Narasapura. The service is expected to facilitate the reliable movement of products from these industrial clusters to markets in North India, reducing uncertainty in freight movement and helping industries plan their logistics operations more efficiently,” he added.

Mr. Somanna also highlighted the industrial potential of Vasantha Narasapura in Tumakuru, describing it as one of the largest industrial areas in India. He said a major multi-modal logistics park was being developed there.

He further said that container train services would be launched directly between Tumakuru and Tughlakabad after the completion of the container terminal at Thimmarajanahalli in Tumakuru district.