Rajkot Division, of Western Railway successfully operated its first long-haul “Mega Freight Train” from Windmill (near Jamnagar), comprising 87 wagons (formed by combining two goods trains into a single long-haul train).
The division also earned revenue of approximately Rs. 40 lakhs from the operation of its first long-haul.
The long-haul train was operated on March 24, 2026, from Windmill (near Jamnagar) to Katosan Road in Ahmedabad Division, covering a distance of approximately 306 km at an average speed of 30.50 kmph.
Integrated Formation
The long-haul train was formed by integrating two freight rakes into a single formation:
First Section: 45 container wagons
Second Section: 42 covered wagons
This integrated formation enabled transportation of a larger volume of freight in a single run, thereby reducing the requirement of multiple train paths and ensuring better asset utilization.
Single Crew Operation:
The long-haul train, which would normally require two separate crews for two freight trains, was operated with only one crew for the entire journey, demonstrating optimized crew utilization, improved operational efficiency and better resource management.
Key Benefits:
The operation of long-haul freight trains offers several advantages:
1) Enhances line capacity by utilizing a single path for multiple rakes
2) Increases throughput and freight carrying capacity
3) Reduces transit time due to fewer detentions
4) Improves cost efficiency and competitiveness of rail transport
5) Optimizes crew utilization by reducing requirement from multiple crews to a single crew
