1 month ago
India-Nepal freight train boosts cross-border trade
India and Nepal have started a new direct freight train service that carries goods in containers from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar.
This train has 40 wagons and carries canola.
The new service is part of a revised agreement between the two countries to make trade easier and faster.
The train route was inaugurated in June 2023, and the new rules for the train service were signed in November 2025.
This train service is expected to make trade between India and Nepal quicker, cheaper, and better for the environment.
It will help businesses that import and export goods, as well as logistics companies.
The train service is part of India's plan to improve trade and transportation with neighboring countries.
India's first direct container freight train reaches Nepal, boosting cross-border trade.
The train, with 40 wagons carrying 1,225 tonnes of canola, traveled from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard.
The service is part of the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, reducing transit time and logistics costs.
The route was inaugurated in June 2023, and the revised Letter of Exchange was signed in November 2025.
The initiative aims to improve trade efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen economic partnerships.
- Who
- Indian Railways and Nepal
- What
- First direct container freight train
- Where
- Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard
- When
- June 2023 (inauguration), November 2025 (LoE signing)
- Why
- To strengthen cross-border trade and improve logistics efficiency
Economic Benefits
Infrastructure Challenges
Trade Efficiency
Economic Benefits
The direct freight train significantly reduces transit time and logistics costs, benefiting exporters and importers.
Infrastructure Challenges
The new route requires substantial infrastructure upgrades to handle increased freight traffic efficiently.
Environmental Impact
Economic Benefits
Rail transport is more environmentally sustainable compared to road transport.
Infrastructure Challenges
Initial infrastructure development may have environmental impacts that need to be managed.
Key facts
- Train Composition
- 40 wagons carrying canola
- Route
- Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard
- Protocol
- Revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol
- Inauguration Date
- June 2023
- LoE Signing Date
- November 2025
- Cargo Details
- 1,225 tonnes of canola
- Inauguration Officials
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Quotes
Senior Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) official
An official from Northeast Frontier Railway
“The successful operation enables direct rail movement of containerised cargo from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar without transshipment at the border. The new arrangement is expected to substantially reduce transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling while improving the efficiency, reliability and competitiveness of cross-border trade between the two neighbouring countries.”
thehansindia.com
“This time, the train, comprising 40 wagons, moved into Biratnagar without transshipment at the border. This practice will significantly reduce transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling while improving trade efficiency between the two countries.”
telegraphindia.com
Kapinjal Kishore Sharma
Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway
“The freight train’s arrival marked a significant milestone for bilateral trade, said Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railway.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
India launches first direct container freight train to Nepal, carrying 1,225 tonnes of canola from Kolkata port
Indian Railways launches first direct freight service to Nepal: Kolkata-Biratnagar train speeds up bilateral trade
India's first direct container freight train reaches Nepal in big push to cross-border trade
India’s first direct freight train rolls into Nepal’s Biratnagar - Telegraph India
India Launches First Direct Commercial Container Freight Train to Nepal
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