Indian Railways introduces Double Stack Dwarf Container Service

In a bid to capture lost traffic and to enhance its freight revenue through new delivery model for domestic cargo, Indian Railways has introduced Double Stack Dwarf Container Services. The freight train was flagged off recently, July 7, from Western Railway’s Rajkot railway station on its maiden commercial run. The train, booked from the Reliance Rail Siding at Kanalus to Rewari in Haryana, was loaded with 82 containers of Polypropylene Granules. 
 
Indian Railways has received increased revenue of Rs 18.50 lakhs due to this Double Stacked Dwarf Container service, said a Ministry of Railways statement. The Double Stacked Container, which is 6 ft 4 inches in height and can run on electrified tracks, can hold a capacity of 30,500 kgs. 
 
In comparison with regular containers, these containers are 662 mm short but 162 mm wider, said the statement, adding that the dwarf containers can hold a volume of approximately 67% more when compared to traditional containers. 
 
The regular double stack ISO containers can run only on few chosen routes on Indian Railways, but these short-heighted Double Containers can run on most tracks very easily. These containers in double stack formation can run under 25kV overhead lines. With the use of these double-stack dwarf containers, the cost of the unit will be significantly reduced due to the rail transport being cheaper than the road, said the statement.
 
Currently, 'Low Density Products', such as plastic granules, PVC polyester fabric, white goods, FMCG products, polyethylene, auto car, etc. are being transported mostly by road, but due to low cost of transportation in dwarf containers, Indian Railways now offers a viable transport.  
 
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At the general freight rate, the double-stack dwarf container trains can generate more than 50 per cent of the revenue, the statement added.