Southern Railway cargo train service launch: Southern Railway is starting a new intra-zonal coast-to-coast parcel express train that will run between Royapuram in Chennai and Mangaluru Central. This is the first service of its kind for Indian Railways.
The parcel train will run every Friday from Mangaluru Central and every Tuesday from Royapuram in Chennai. The weekly, time-tabled service will offer fixed transit schedules, helping businesses get “timely and dependable deliveries”, according to an official release.
The initiative by Indian Railways aims to move parcels faster and at a lower price across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Wide range of commodities to be transported
“The unique feature of this service is earmarking of dedicated parcel coaches to each destination, ensuring organised parcel handling and management. The train accommodates a wide range of commodities including white goods, perishables, consumer products and industrial materials. A first of its kind time tabled logistics service connecting key business hubs of Tamil Nadu and Kerala,” the release said.
Halts at key commercial centres across TN, Kerala
The parcel train will run from Mangaluru Central every Friday and from Royapuram in Chennai every Tuesday.
It will halt at major commercial stops such as Salem, Erode, Uttukkuli, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur and Kasaragod to ensure smooth loading and unloading.
The first ‘Parcel Express’ service will leave Mangaluru Central at 3.10 pm on December 12 and reach Royapuram in Chennai at 1.30 pm the next day. The return train will depart from Royapuram at 3.45 pm on December 16 and arrive at Mangaluru Central at 2.20 pm the next afternoon.
The train will have “high capacity parcel vans — 10 coaches and luggage cum brake van – 2 coaches”. The service is also being promoted as an eco-friendly option to shift parcel movement from road to rail.
