India's first direct commercial container freight train reaches Nepal: Railways

India has operationalised its first direct commercial container freight train service to Nepal, the Railways Ministry said on Tuesday.

A 40-wagon train carrying canola from Kolkata Port reached the Biratnagar Customs Yard under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol.

According to the ministry, the service allows containerised cargo to move directly from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar without transshipment at the border, a step expected to reduce transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling while improving the efficiency of cross-border trade.

The freight movement has been made possible under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, which enables seamless end-to-end rail transportation of cargo between the two countries.

The ministry said the train comprised 40 wagons and marked the first direct commercial container freight movement on the route.

The development builds on the broad-gauge rail link between Jogbani in Bihar and Biratnagar in Nepal, which was inaugurated in June 2023.

Following the signing of a revised Letter of Exchange between the two countries in November 2025, direct commercial rail movement to Biratnagar has now become operational.

The ministry said the direct rail service is expected to facilitate import and export cargo movement by providing a faster, cheaper and more environment-friendly mode of transport. It added that reducing multiple handling points would improve supply chain efficiency and benefit exporters, importers, logistics operators and industries involved in bilateral trade.

The Railways Ministry said the initiative is part of efforts to expand international rail connectivity, strengthen freight logistics and improve ease of doing business through better transport infrastructure.

The ministry added that greater use of rail for freight movement would help lower logistics costs, improve cargo reliability and strengthen economic ties between India and Nepal.