The longest freight train ever operated in the country, tested by Railways

17 Aug 2022 , 08:46 AM

On August 15, as part of the “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations, the Railways ran a test run of the 3.5-km-long freight train, Super Vasuki, transporting more than 27,000 tons of coal in 295 filled waggons between Korba in Chhattisgarh and Rajnandgao in Nagpur. The South East Central Railway train left Korba at 13:50 and travelled 267 kilometres in 11.20 hours.

The national transporter claimed that this is the longest and heaviest freight train that the Railways have ever operated and that it crosses a station in around four minutes.

According to officials, the Super Vasuki carries enough coal to operate a 3000 MW power plant for a whole day. This can transport three times as much coal in a single trip as the 90-car, 100-ton rail rakes that are now in use.

Five goods trains were combined into one rake to create the train.

In order to avoid fuel shortages for power plants, the Railways intend to adopt this configuration (longer freight trains) more frequently, particularly to transport coal during periods of high demand.

Coal shortages earlier this year had plunged the nation into a serious power crisis. This method of coal transport will help them achieve greater efficiency.