Rudrastra: Asia’s Longest Freight Train by Indian Railways

Indian Railways has been able to make a trial run of the longest freight train in Asia, named Rudrastra that covered around 4.5 km and 345 wagons. The trial was over Ganjkhwaja (UP) to Garhwa (Jharkhand) over 209 km in 5 hours 10 minutes at an average of 40.5 km/h. Three long-haul racks each of 59 bogies were bolted together to form the train hauled by seven engines. The innovation is directed towards minimizing turnaround time, ensuring the efficiency of the freights, and saving resources. The successful test opens the way to the more rapid and cost-effective transportation of goods all over India.

Context

• Indian Railways successfully tested Asia-longest freight train named Rudrastra and it was a turning point in long-distance freight business.

Key Details

• Longitude: 4.5 km.

• Total Wagons- 345; capacity of an empty wagon: 72 tonnes.

• Engines: 7 (two at the front, one between each 59 bogeys).

• Building: Three high distance racks (each having 2 goods trains).

• Route: Ganjkhwaja (UP) to Garhwa (Jharkhand), 209 km in 5h 10m; Avg. 40.5 km/h.

Significance

• Operation Efficiency: It puts together several freight trains in order to improve congestion.

• Savings of time: High rate of loading and transportation.

• Cost Effectiveness: less crew and locomotives used per tonne-km carried.

• Environmental Impact: Reduced use of fuel on a per-tonne-of-cargo basis.

Technological Aspect

• Long Haul Operation: Application of distributed power control acceleration/braking.

• Load Management: A homogeneous use of power will avoid derailment, and minimize stress on couplers.

Challenges

• Necessitates the increased passing loops and platforms at stations.

• Complicated signalling synchronisation.

• Greater exposure to failure in the case of mechanical.

Way Forward

• Widen long-haul freight corridors in heavily utilized patterns.

• Modernize infrastructure to support long trains using ultra-long trains.

• Connected to Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC).

Conclusion

Rudrastra is also a first in Indian freight logistics and in line with the vision of Indian Railways to expand capacity, speed and efficiencies and reduce operational costs, in the journey to becoming a global freight leader.