Freight Operations On Dedicated Rail Corridors Soar 47 Per Cent In 2024-25 With Over 1.3 Lakh Train Trips

The Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors recorded a 47 percent rise in train operations in 2024-25, with the number of trips increasing from 88,225 in 2023-24 to 1,30,116, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.

Containers accounted for 24 per cent of the cargo, coal 19 per cent, and miscellaneous items 11 per cent.

Other commodities, including cement, iron and steel, foodgrains, fertiliser, and petroleum products, made up between 1 per cent and 4 per cent each.

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) credited the growth to new freight terminals and sidings under the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals initiative.

The two corridors cover 2,843 km, of which 2,741 km is operational.

The remaining 102 km stretch between Vaitrana and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) is expected to be commissioned by December 2025.

The Western Corridor runs 1,506 km from Dadri to JNPT, with 93.2 per cent operational, while the 1,337 km Eastern Corridor is fully functional.

Freight services have steadily risen since the first 331 km was opened in 2020.

“Today, over 350 trains operate daily on both corridors, and once the Western side is fully commissioned, we expect exponential growth,” a DFCCIL official was quoted as saying by PTI.

However, the officials reportedly added that the vacant train trips were about 34 per cent of the total trips in 2024-25.

They added that mostly coal and cement wagons return vacant as it is not possible to use these wagons for other products.

To reduce empty runs in cases where it is possible, the Railway Ministry is offering up to 20 per cent discounts on return trips and deploying multi-purpose wagons.

Officials also said DFCCIL has opened a public-private partnership model for new sidings and freight terminals at its 115 stations, allowing private players to participate in operations.

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