Indian Railway First Double Stack Container Train Full Details
Indian Railway First Double Stack Container Train Full Details
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railways creates a new world benchmark by successfully running 1st Double Stack Container Train in high rise OHE electrified sections
Thrust on innovation, speed and customisation in freight operations
From 1st April 2025 to 10th June 2025 Indian Railways has transported 178.68 million tonnes of commodities through its uninterrupted 24X7 freighters trains operations
More than 32.40 lacs wagons carried supplies to keep the supply chain functional from 24.03.2025 to 10.06.2025. Of these, more than 18 lacs wagons carried essential commodities
From 22.03.2025 to 10.06.2025 total 3,897 Parcel Trains have also been run out by Indian Railways with total 1,39,196 tonnes of consignment
Indian Railways creates a new world benchmark by commissioning 1st high rise Over Head Equipment(OHE), which has contact wire height of 7.57 metre and successfully run double stack containers in electrified territory on Western Railway. This tremendous achievement is a first of its kind in the entire world and will also boost the ambitious mission of Green India as a latest green initiative over Indian Railways. With this remarkable development, Indian Railways has proudly become the first Railway to run Double Stack Container train with high reach pantograph in high rise OHE territory, the Operations of which successfully commenced on 10th June, 2025 from Palanpur & Botad stations in Gujarat.
The thrust of such kind of initiatives is on innovation, speed and customisation in freight operations.Inspite of time that was lost under Covid Lockdown Ministry is focussing to surpass the last years freight figures.
From 1st April 2025 to 10th June 2025 Indian Railways has transported 178.68 million tonnes of commodities through its uninterrupted 24X7 freight trains operations across the country.
From 24.03.2025 to 10.06.2025 more than 32.40 lacs wagons carried supplies to keep the supply chain functional. Of these, more than 18 lacs wagons carried essential commodities like food grains, salt, sugar, milk, edible oil, onions, fruits & vegetables, petroleum products, coal, fertilizers etc. throughout the country. During the period 1st April 2025 to 10th June, 2025 Railways loaded 12.74 million tonnes of food grains as compared to 6.79 million tonnes in the same period last year.
Apart from this, from 22.03.2025 to 10.06.2025 total 3,897 Parcel Trains have also been run out by Indian Railways of which 3,790 are time-tabled trains. Total 1,39,196 tonnes of consignment have been loaded in these Parcel Trains.
Here’s a verified, well-structured overview of Indian Railways’ first double-stack container train, including its strategic significance, technical details, and operational context:
Contents
🚂 Inception: India’s First Electrified Double-Stack Container Train
- On 10 June 2025, Indian Railways successfully operated its first double-stack container train under high-rise OHE electrification, marking a world-first in such operations on electrified lines. This trial run occurred between Palanpur and Botad on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).
- The infrastructure enabled overhead contact wire at approximately 7.57 m, the highest standard globally, paired with high-reach pantographs to accommodate double-stacked containers.
🧰 Technical Highlights
- Utilized flat-wagon design, leveraging India’s broad gauge (1,676 mm) and larger loading envelope—unlike well cars used internationally.
- Capable of hauling ~180 TEUs per train, nearly double what single-stack container trains carry.
- Pulled by powerful electric locomotives such as WAG‑9 or WAG‑12 with 12,000 hp, enabling speeds up to 100 km/h on DFC sections.
🌐 Operational Significance & Legacy
- The launch heralded a shift in freight infrastructure: DFCs are entirely grade-separated, robustly built to support double-stacked operations via the electrical grid—a global innovation.
- Trains now routinely carry up to 400 containers in long-haul formations using multiple rake coupling and distributed power systems (“Python rakes”), improving freight density and lowering logistics cost.
- This innovation allows freight flows to bypass passenger track congestion, accelerating transit times significantly—from ~70 hrs down to under 30 hrs between Dadri ICD and Mundra Port.
📝 Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of First Run | 10 June 2025 |
| Route | Palanpur → Botad (WDFC) |
| Electrification | High-rise OHE (~7.57 m) |
| Wagons | Flat-wagon double-stack capable |
| Capacity | ~180 TEU per train |
| Locomotives | High-powered WAG‑9 / WAG‑12 |
| Speed | Up to ~100 km/h |
| Strategic Value | Dedicated freight corridor, reduced congestion and logistics cost |
🧠 Why It Matters
- World-first innovation enabling high-voltage double-stack container trains on electrified tracks.
- Improved efficiency: higher container volume per train, reduced diesel use, and faster delivery times.
- Freight corridor advantage: segregated track dedicated only to cargo eliminates interference with passenger traffic.
💬 Expert Notes (Community Consensus)
“The dedicated freight corridor … was built up from scratch with the intention to haul double-stack and longer trains”
“Only freight trains will run through this route … train reached speeds beyond 100 kmph.”
Would you like further details on:
- Specific rake and locomotive configurations?
- Operational updates since the 2025 trial—like high-volume runs between ICD Dadri and Mundra?
- Technical standards for high-rise OHE and pantograph design?