Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation looks to ramp up truck-on-train services

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL) under the Indian Railways is looking to ramp up its truckontrain services after successful trial runs with both perishables (like milk) and nonperishables (auto components).

At present, the DFC offers truckontrain services on both the eastern and western dedicated freight corridors.

According to officials of the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), the truckontrain service is open for all “feasible” goods and products.

“So far, we have successfully carried out trials for autocomponents, while there are regular services for perishables such as milk and cattle feed. Depending on demand, we would like to ramp up services,” a DFCCIL official told businessline.

TRUCK-ON-TRAIN

The truckontrain service is one where loaded trucks are directly carried to their destinations on railway wagons.

This ‘Roll on Roll off ’ (RoRo) service that combines road and rail transport, carries trucks on Railway wagons from origin to destination or on a section of the journey.

Konkan Railways was the first to offer RoRo services as a dedicated facility In India. Flat BRN wagons (without side walls) with strengthened base, originally used for carrying steel products, were deployed for RoRo operations. The Indian

Railways officially introduced the service in 2016. Southwestern Railways adopted it on the BengaluruSolapur route, but the service was halted after a few trips.

According to the official, the milk and cattle feed service was launched in June 2023. The service began with 25 loaded trucks daily oneither side.

The trucks carried milk tankers from Gujarat to the National Capital Region, and cattle feed for farmers and milk unions on the return.

For 25 trucks, the earnings are estimated at ₹8,00,000 per trip.

NON-PERISHABLES

According to the official, the truckontrain service for autoparts transportation “is open for all routes of DFC.” However, at present, the demand does not convert into train load. As of now, autoancillaries are transported through truckontrain trains.

“We expect this segment to pick up over the years. The truck operator saves money on multiple fronts, while the initiative reduces carbon emissions,” the official said.