Pipavav Railway completes one year of container train operations

“PRCL commenced container operations in September 2021 with the launch of service from Jodhpur Inland Container Depot (ICD) to port Pipavav. PRCL later started weekly service between Pipavav Port and Bhagat ki Kothi in Rajasthan. More destinations like Jamnagar, Sanand and Maliya were added as the demand grew for the service,” reads an official release.

The company has now drawn up firm plans to ramp up the business to cater to the increased demand from the industry, it added.

“The National Logistics Policy announced last week clearly focuses on speeding up the cargo movement and reducing the logistic cost in India to a single digit. As a container train operator, we are glad to be a part of this initiative by moving the cargoes on an environmentally friendly electrified route. With the implementation of DFC, there is a huge growth opportunity for PRCL and we are all geared up to cater to our customers,” said Sanjiv Garg, Managing Director, Pipavav Railway Corporation Limited.

“We are proud to be associated with PRCL and congratulate them on this milestone. Container train operations seamlessly improve the reliability of the scheduled ocean lines in comparison to road transportation. Connecting via electrified route is a significant step towards offering safe, reliable, cost-effective and environment-friendly EXIM cargo movement,” said Jakob Friis Sorensen, MD, APM Terminals Pipavav.

The current annual cargo handling capacity at APM Terminals Pipavav includes 1.35 million TEU containers, 250,000 passenger cars, 2 million metric tonnes of liquid bulk and 4 million metric tonnes of dry bulk.

APM Terminals Pipavav is India’s first public private partnership (PPP) port in India and is a part of the APM Terminals global terminal network.

PRCL was formed to execute the Surendranagar–Rajula–Pipavav port gauge conversion & new line project, and has concessionaire rights to construct, operate and maintain the project line for 33 years.