Indian Railways has launched its longest freight train, ‘Rudrastra’, stretching nearly 4.5 kilometres. The massive formation was created by coupling six standard BOXN rakes into a single unit, comprising 354 wagons and powered by seven locomotives.
On 7 August, the national transporter operated the train from Ganjkhwaja station in the DDU Division to Garhwa Road. The journey began on the Dedicated Freight Corridor from Ganjkhwaja to Sonnagar before continuing on regular tracks.
Railway officials said operating six separate rakes would have required individual crew arrangements, scheduling, and routing. Running them together as ‘Rudrastra’ reduces manpower needs, lowers operational costs, and speeds up freight movement.
The move is expected to enhance India’s logistics efficiency and free up network capacity for additional trains.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the train on X. He called it ‘Bharat’s longest freight train (4.5 km long)’.
The zonal railway said the achievement reflects improved coordination, management, and operational capacity within the DDU Division.
Officials added that the combined run will significantly save time and create space for running more trains, marking a milestone in India’s freight transportation capabilities.
Also Read: Ready To Support Peace Efforts: India Welcomes Trump-Putin Alaska Summit
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
