Running of freight trains in a Block through “Convoy Movement” 

Running of freight trains in a block through Convoy Movement by creating coaching free corridors has been a major initiative undertaken since September, 2018, for improving freight throughput, especially on the coal carrying routes. Minister of Railways & Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal has been closely following up on the implementation of this initiative.

This innovative way of running freight traffic has been successfully implemented on Korba-Bilaspur-Anupur-New Katni-Agasod/Bina-Jhansi-Kota routes, Ghaziabad-Allahabad-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadyaya Junction routes and Bilaspur-Jharsuguda-Rourkela sections.  This convoy system was also tried on the Asansol-Jhajha-Barauni section (251.65 kms) on 3^rd/4^th November, 2018 which was successful.

In order to maximize throughput during the coaching free corridors, detailed planning of loads, locomotives and crews is being done.  Senior officers are deputed in the control offices to monitor the planning, ordering and running of freight trains in the convoy.  Traffic inspectors and loco inspectors are deputed to foot-plate in the locomotives of the freight trains to ensure no time loss takes place in the clearance of block sections.

Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways and Coal chairing a review meeting of the senior officers of Railway Board and Zonal Railways on this innovative Freight Convoy Initiative applauded the all out efforts put in by Railway Officers and staff in successful implementation of this movement. He further said that successful endeavors should be made to expand the Freight Capacity of Indian Railways without compromising the overall passenger movement and maintenance requirements.

The increase in  freight throughput across identified key sections /interchange points of SECR, WCR, NCR, ECR and ER during the days of freight convoy system has been as under:-

 

From Zone	To Zone	Inter-change point	Interchange On Date						Average inter-change on Convoy Days	Average inter-change on Non-Convoy Days	Percentage Improvement
			29thSep	6thOct	13/14thOct	20thOct	3rd/4thNov	10th/ 11th Nov
SECR	WCR	NKJ	40	43	41	41	42	39	41	28	46.4
NCR	WCR	AGD/BINA	46	47	40		34	45	42	36	17.8
NCR	ECR	DDU		49	49		42	45	46	37	25.0
ECR	NCR	DDU		43	45		45	44	44	36	22.9
SECR	SER	JSG			35			32	34	24	39.6
SER	SECR	JSG			35			32	34	24	39.6
ER	ECR	JAJ					20		20	12	66.7

Thus, both in the loaded direction and in the empties direction there was significant increase in freight trains and throughput.

At present, ECR, ER, NCR, SECR, SER and WCR are running freight Convoys in some corridors. Other Zonal Railways will also take up running of freight corridors on their routes based on requirements. It is felt that, there is huge potential for increasing freight throughput across all Zonal Railways by introduction of freight Convoy System for 2 or 3 times a week.  This would help in improving mobility of rakes required for coal loading as well as other commodities.