Indian Railways Conducts Trial Run of Asia’s Longest Freight Train ‘Rudrastra’

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• Event: Indian Railways conducted the trial run of Asia’s longest freight train ‘Rudrastra’ – 4.5 km in length.
• Route: Ganjkhwaja (Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh) → Garhwa (Jharkhand)
• Distance & Time: 209 km in 5 hours 10 minutes at an average speed of 40.50 km/h.
• Division Involved: Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Division of East Central Railway → Dhanbad Division for faster goods transport.
• Prepared by: Attaching three long-haul racks (two goods trains each).
• Composition:
  • Total Wagons: 345
  • Capacity: 72 tonnes per wagon
  • Engines: 7 (two in front, one after every 59 bogies)
  • Rack Size: Each rack had 59 bogies
  • Equivalent to five goods trains lined up.
• Minister’s Statement: Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted Rudrastra as a breakthrough in fast, resource-efficient freight transport.
  
  Updated August 9, 2025 7:49 AM | newsonair