Railroads will allow industrially designed railcars to push more cargo | Today’s news
Indian Railways plans to unveil a new wagon design policy within 15 days that will enable commodity-specific freight wagons tailored to industry needs, as it seeks to increase rail’s share of freight in the country.
The new policy, discussed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw with senior officials on Thursday, seeks to create an industry-friendly framework for designing specialized coaches tailored to the needs of different commodities.
The move follows extensive consultation with industry groups, trade bodies and major freight customers, many of whom have designed customized wagon designs tailored to handle, load, unload and transport a variety of commodities.
According to India’s National Railway Plan, it plans to increase railways’ share of total freight from around 26-27% currently to 45% by 2030. While the target looks ambitious at this point, Indian Railways is taking all steps to accelerate the shift, a former railway board member said on condition of anonymity.
Industry feedback has also highlighted the success of specialist vehicles developed for commodities such as cement and salt, which have improved loading and unloading efficiency.
“To provide an industry-friendly framework for developing specialized wagons tailored to the needs of various commodities, it has been decided to finalize the new wagon design policy within 15 days,” the ministry said in a statement.
Industries will be able to design cars according to their specific requirements. For example, the transportation of steel coils requires special lashing and dedicated loading and unloading systems, while several other commodities have different operational requirements, the statement said.
The ministry said industries would have the power to propose design modifications, while safety approval would remain the responsibility of the Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO) and the Chief Commissioner for Railway Safety (CCRS).
“These reforms are expected to enable several new industries to enter the rail freight ecosystem,” the statement said.
The government has consistently pushed for a greater share of freight to move by rail, citing lower logistics costs, lower fuel consumption and environmental benefits. As India’s railways move closer to full electrification, policymakers see rail freight as a key lever to reduce diesel imports and promote environmental sustainability, the statement said.
Rail transport is approximately 90% more environmentally friendly than road transport and with almost complete electrification of Indian railways, increased rail freight movement will reduce dependence on imported diesel, reduce logistics costs, reduce carbon emissions and make essential goods more affordable for citizens.
