Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) did a trial run on the newly electrified double-line section between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Vaitarna on Tuesday, March 31,2026.
The trial run of freight trains marks the completion of the entire Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), with operations carried out on the JNPT–New Saphale (Vaitarna) section.
A container train in the down direction (JNPT – New Saphale) departed at 11:50 hrs, hauled by an electric locomotive, while in the up direction (New Saphale – a JNPT), a container train also departed at 11:50 hrs, powered by a diesel locomotive.
The trial run evaluated key technical and operational parameters, including track stability, behaviour of long welded rails under load, efficiency of overhead electrification systems, locomotive performance, signalling coordination, and safe movement of rolling stock. It also enabled assessment of integration between mainline and loop line operations, which is crucial for seamless freight handling.
Managing Director, DFCCIL Praveen Kumar, oversaw the trial run. With uninterrupted end-to-end connectivity now established on the WDFC, train operations will become efficient, requiring one set of crew members between New Makarpura and New JNPT due to reduced operational handover and streamlined running.
Transit time for freight trains will reduce by four hours helping in faster turn around of rolling stock, improving asset utilisation and scheduling besides increasing capacity for handling higher freight volume.
First 25-ton axle load train on DFCCIL
DFCCIL successfully flagged off its first 25-tonne axle load freight train on March 25,2026.
The train was operated on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) for transportation of steel coils, from the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal at New Gothangaon in Gujarat to the HTPP siding at Palwal in Haryana covering 1106 km.
Axle load refers to the maximum weight exerted by a pair of wheels (axle) of a train on the railway tracks. Until now, the Indian Railways network primarily operated with an axle load ranging between 22.1 to 23.1 tonnes.
Increasing this to 25 tonnes increases the freight carrying capacity by 15 to 20 per cent transporting more cargo in fewer trips, thereby improving overall efficiency and lowering logistics cost.
Per wagon capacity: Under the earlier system, wagons operated with a 22.9-tonne axle load. With 25-tonne axle load, each wagon now carries an additional benefit of about 8.4 tonnes.
