DFCCIL Seeks More Wagons for Expanding Truck-on-Train Service on Freight Corridor

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) has urged the Railway Board to allocate additional wagons for its fast-growing truck-on-train (ToT) service, nearly a year after the initiative began operations on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), officials said on Sunday.

ToT Service Gaining Momentum on Western Corridor

Launched on September 18, 2023, the ToT service allows trucks and milk tankers to be transported on specially designed wagons between Rewari in Haryana and Palanpur in Gujarat. The 630-km journey, which takes around 12 hours by train, offers major advantages including faster transit, reduced logistics cost, lower emissions, and relief from highway congestion.

According to DFCCIL officials, demand for the service has surged, prompting the corporation to seek more wagons from the Railway Board. The request has been under consideration for several months, but additional rakes are yet to be sanctioned.

Need for Special Flat Multi-Purpose Wagons

Industry sources said the ToT model requires Flat Multi-Purpose (FMP) wagons, specially designed to handle diverse cargo including loaded trucks. These wagons are currently under production, with deliveries expected early next year.

“Right now, we are using Bogie Rail Wagons, which are also flat, but FMP wagons are more versatile and better suited to DFCCIL’s business model,” a Railway Board official said.

Daily Operations: 30 Trucks Transported Each Day

DFCCIL presently loads 30 trucks daily at Palanpur for the 12-hour rail journey to Rewari. Once the trucks are unloaded and their consignments delivered, the empty vehicles are loaded back onto the return train.

Of the 30 trucks, 25 are milk tankers from Amul’s Banas dairy, transported by road to the Palanpur loading point. The remaining five carry other goods such as vegetables, machinery, diesel oil and assorted freight.

A special coach is attached to the train for drivers, allowing them to rest during the 12-hour rail journey. After unloading at Rewari, the milk tankers are driven to Prithala in Faridabad, where Amul has another dairy facility.

Travel Time Reduced From 30 Hours to 12 Hours

Officials noted that the same tankers earlier took nearly 30 hours to reach Prithala from the Banas dairy by road. The dedicated freight corridor now cuts around 20 hours of travel time, ensuring the milk’s quality is preserved from loading to processing.

A Game-Changer for Indian Logistics

Calling the initiative transformative, officials said the ToT model addresses long-standing challenges in rail logistics, such as limited first-mile and last-mile connectivity, high minimum consignment norms, and customer concerns around transporting high-value goods.

“This intermodal system saves time, reduces road congestion, improves drivers’ wellbeing by offering rest, and significantly cuts carbon emissions,” an official said.

DFCCIL added that industries across several regions have expressed interest in similar services being launched elsewhere, but expansion will depend on the availability of FMP wagons.