Indian Railways has operated its first 1.3-km-long double-stack container train, aimed at increasing freight capacity and improving logistics efficiency. The train was operated from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) near Mumbai to Varnama in Vadodara Division on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).

According to the national transporter, the train departed from JNPT at 7 pm on August 21, 2026, carrying 360 TEUs (containers). It covered around 422 km to reach CONCOR’s GCT terminal at Varnama.

The operation involved two double-stack rakes joined together to form a single long-haul train. Each rake carried 180 TEUs, taking the total capacity of the train to 360 TEUs.

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First 1.3-km double-stack long-haul container train run by Indian Railways on WDFC

The long-haul formation comprised two double-stack rakes. The leading rake from JNPT to Vadodara had a load of 45+1, was hauled by locomotive 60311 and had a tonnage of 1,817 tonnes. The trailing rake, also operating between JNPT and Vadodara, had a load of 45+1, was hauled by locomotive 24690 and carried 2,105 tonnes.

📢 First Long Haul (1.3 km) Double Stack container train on Western Dedicated Freight Corridor

JNPT, Mumbai -> Vadodara, Gujarat pic.twitter.com/CY9kWabvrM

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) August 22, 2026

How double-stack long-haul trains can boost freight movement

• Less congestion at terminals

Moving more containers in a single train can help speed up the evacuation of containers from ports and reduce congestion at terminals.

• More freight in one train

Double-stack train operations allow containers to be carried one above another, increasing the amount of cargo transported in a single movement.

• Better use of railway routes

According to Railways, since more containers can be moved in one train, fewer train movements may be needed to transport the same volume of freight.

• Faster freight movement

Long-haul train operations can help move and evacuate containers more efficiently, potentially reducing overall transit time.

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How rail freight can reduce road traffic

As the train was electrically hauled, it can help reduce dependence on diesel-powered road transport. In a statement, the national transporter said that a single long-haul double-stack container train can carry cargo that would otherwise require a large number of trucks. This can help reduce road congestion, diesel consumption and transport-related emissions.