DFCCIL Seeks More Wagons for Successful Truck-on-Train Service Amidst Growing Demand

Transportation

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Updated on 16 Nov 2025, 11:13 am

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) has formally requested the Railway Board to provide more specialized wagons to support its highly successful Truck-on-Train (ToT) service. This service, which commenced on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor on September 18, 2023, operates between Rewari in Haryana and Palanpur in Gujarat. It facilitates the transportation of entire trucks and milk tankers on specially designed rail wagons.

The ToT service has demonstrated substantial benefits, including a significant reduction in transportation costs and transit times, alleviation of road traffic congestion, and a decrease in air pollution. Nearly a year after its launch, DFCCIL is seeking to expand its capacity to meet growing business potential, having written to the Railway Board for additional wagons. However, the Railway Board has not yet fulfilled this request.

Industry sources indicate that the ToT service requires Flat Multi-Purpose (FMP) wagons, which are currently under manufacturing, with expected deliveries commencing early next year. While Bogie Rail Wagons are currently in use, FMP wagons are considered more suitable for DFCCIL's business model due to their multi-purpose design.

Currently, the service transports approximately 30 trucks daily from Palanpur to Rewari, covering 630 kilometers in about 12 hours. A significant portion, 25 trucks, are milk tankers from an Amul dairy in Banas to Palanpur. The remaining five trucks carry diverse goods. A special coach is attached for drivers to rest during the journey. This service has drastically reduced transit time for milk tankers, from 30 hours to around 12 hours, ensuring product freshness.

Officials hail the initiative as a "game-changer" for the logistics sector, effectively addressing challenges like first and last-mile connectivity, minimum consignment requirements, and high-value freight concerns. The intermodal approach saves time, reduces road congestion, improves driver welfare, and cuts carbon emissions. DFCCIL has received multiple industry demands for similar services from other locations, contingent on the availability of FMP wagons.

Impact: This news highlights a potential growth opportunity in India's logistics and freight transportation sector. The demand for enhanced infrastructure like specialized wagons for services such as ToT signifies an evolving and maturing logistics network. The successful operation and expansion plans for such services can positively impact companies involved in freight movement, railway manufacturing, and industries that rely on efficient supply chains. The delay in wagon delivery could be a bottleneck for DFCCIL's growth and its ability to meet rising industry demand. Rating: 6/10

Explained Terms: * Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL): A government-owned company responsible for planning, developing, and operating dedicated freight corridors in India to decongest railway networks and improve the speed and capacity of freight movement. * Railway Board: The apex body for the Indian Railways, responsible for policy-making, planning, and management of the entire railway system in India. * Wagons: Rail cars or carriages used to carry goods or freight. * Truck-on-Train (ToT) service: A logistical model where trucks or their trailers are loaded onto railway wagons for long-distance transport, combining the flexibility of road transport with the efficiency of rail for bulk movement. * Western Dedicated Freight Corridor: A major ongoing railway project aimed at creating a high-capacity, high-speed corridor for freight trains connecting the northern and western regions of India. * Bogie Rail Wagon: A type of railway wagon that runs on bogies (wheel assemblies), often referring to general-purpose flat wagons used for carrying various types of freight. * Flat Multi-Purpose (FMP) wagon: A specially designed type of flat wagon that is versatile and can carry multiple types of cargo, including trucks, containers, and tankers, often featuring specific loading and securing mechanisms. * Intermodal approach: A logistics strategy that utilizes two or more different modes of transportation (e.g., road, rail, sea, air) for the movement of goods within the same journey, without handling the freight itself when changing modes.