The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited has completed a crucial trial run on the newly electrified double-line stretch between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal and Vaitarna (New Saphale), marking the full completion of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The trial, conducted under the supervision of senior officials, saw two container trains depart simultaneously at 11.50 am. One train moved in the down direction from JNPT to New Saphale using an electric locomotive, while the other operated in the up direction with a diesel locomotive. The exercise assessed critical operational parameters such as track stability, performance of long welded rails, overhead electrification systems, signalling coordination, and seamless integration between mainline and loop line operations.
With this milestone, uninterrupted end-to-end connectivity on the WDFC has been achieved. The corridor is expected to streamline freight operations by reducing crew requirements between New Makarpura and New JNPT from three to one, owing to fewer operational handovers. Transit time for freight trains is also likely to reduce by nearly four hours, improving turnaround efficiency, asset utilisation, and schedule reliability, while enabling higher cargo volumes.
The completion of the final section paves the way for full-scale commercial operations, expected to significantly enhance freight movement across India with greater speed and capacity.
Meanwhile, Western Railway has crossed the 100 million tonnes freight loading mark for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 100.02 MT well before the close of FY 2025–26. Growth was driven by key segments such as containers, fertilisers, cement, and foodgrains, all registering notable increases.
The zone also diversified its freight basket by introducing new commodities like industrial salt, onions, and automobiles from multiple locations. Officials credited this sustained performance to a focused strategy on logistics efficiency, customer-centric services, and expanding freight streams, indicating long-term strengthening of freight operations.
Source: Mid-day
