Indian Railways unveils longest-ever freight train ‘Rudrastra’

Indian Railways has set a new national record with the launch of its longest-ever freight train, Rudrastra, on the Grand Chord rail section. Stretching approximately 4.5 kilometres, the train is formed by coupling six standard rakes into a single unit, comprising 354 wagons and powered by seven locomotives.

The inaugural run saw Rudrastra travel from Ganjkhwaja station in Uttar Pradesh to Garhwa Road station in Jharkhand—a 200-kilometre journey completed in about five hours at an average speed of 40 km/h. The route included a section along the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) before transitioning to regular tracks.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the train on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as “Bharat’s longest freight train (4.5 km long).”

According to railway officials, operating the six rakes separately would have required repeating crew deployment, scheduling, and routing for each, resulting in higher costs and time. By running them together as Rudrastra, the Railways can achieve significant savings in manpower and operational expenses, while enabling faster and more efficient freight movement—a notable boost for India’s logistics sector.

The project demands precise technical coordination, a challenge successfully managed by the DDU Division of East Central Railway, known for its expertise in repairing, inspecting, and assembling freight wagons. Officials hailed the achievement as a testament to the division’s efficiency, innovation, and teamwork.

While Rudrastra is India’s longest freight train, the global record is still held by Australia’s BHP, whose 7.3-kilometre train with 682 wagons remains unmatched. Nonetheless, Indian Railways’ accomplishment marks a significant stride towards world-class freight operations.