Indian Railways Marks New Milestone with 4.5 km Long ‘Rudrastra’ Trial

Indian Railways has successfully conducted the trial run of Asia’s longest freight train, named ‘Rudrastra’, achieving a new milestone in cargo transportation, as per news reports. The 4.5 km-long train began its trial from Ganjkhwaja railway station in Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, and travelled to Garhwa in Jharkhand. Covering a distance of 209 km in 5 hours and 10 minutes, it maintained an average speed of 40.5 km per hour. The train was formed by combining three long-haul racks, with each comprising two goods trains. In total, 345 wagons were assembled, each with the capacity to load 72 tonne. The configuration required seven engines—two at the front and one for each rack after every 59 bogeys. Effectively, Rudrastra lined up five goods trains in sequence, with the lead train having two engines. Officials noted that the successful trial marks a significant step in improving freight efficiency and streamlining logistics operations for the Indian Railways.