Asia’s Longest Freight Train ‘Rudrastra’ Conquers Trial
4.5 km train sets new Indian Railways record.
The East Central Railway’s Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Division marked a historic achievement by successfully conducting a trial run of ‘Rudrastra,’ Asia’s longest freight train, stretching 4.5 kilometers, officials announced Friday. The milestone, shared by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on X, showcases Indian Railways’ push for efficient freight transport.
The trial run, conducted Thursday from Ganjkhwaja station in Chandauli to Garhwa in Jharkhand, covered 209 km in 5 hours and 10 minutes at an average speed of 40.5 km/h. Divisional Railway Manager Uday Singh Meena hailed the experiment, stating, “Rudrastra will revolutionize freight transportation, saving time and resources.” The train, formed by combining three long-haul racks with a total of 345 wagons, carried 72 tonnes of goods per wagon, powered by seven engines—two at the front and one for each rack after every 59 wagons.
Meena emphasized that Rudrastra, now set to operate between the DDU and Dhanbad Divisions, will enhance the speed and efficiency of goods loading and transport across East Central Railway’s five divisions: DDU, Dhanbad, Danapur, Samastipur, and Sonpur. The successful trial positions Indian Railways as a leader in innovative freight solutions, with Rudrastra earning its place as Asia’s longest freight train in railway records.
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