New freight marketing schemes

Indian Railways has introduced the following freight marketing schemes for procurement of rakes and wagons by inviting private investment:

Special Freight Train Operator (SFTO) Scheme for high capacity and special purpose wagons for transportation of selected commodity.

Automobile Freight Train Operator (AFTO) Scheme for transportation of automobiles traffic with suitable design and higher throughput.

Automatic Freight Rebate Scheme for traffic loaded in traditional empty flow directions from June 25, 2014 wherein all rakes loaded in notified empty flow directions are charged at Class LR1 for trainload traffic and at Class 100 for wagonload traffic subject to certain terms and conditions.

Container Train Operators Policy was opened in 2006. While these rakes are owned by CTOs, Indian Railways hauls their rakes and realises haulage charges.