Summary
A new leased parcel cargo train linking Sahnewal in Punjab with Mundiyampakkam in Tamil Nadu earned Northern Railway’s Ferozepur Division ₹15.63 lakh on its maiden northbound-to-south trip. The six-year round-trip service uses 16 LHB parcel vans with 392 tonnes of capacity, giving businesses a rail alternative for moving goods between northern and southern industrial hubs.
Article
Ludhiana: The Sahnewal-Mundiyampakkam parcel train has earned Northern Railway’s Ferozepur Division ₹15.63 lakh on its first trip from Punjab, which departed from Sahnewal on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The service is designed to move commercial goods between Punjab’s industrial centres and southern India.
What does the train carry?
The train comprises 16 high-capacity Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) parcel vans with a combined carrying capacity of 392 tonnes. Its inaugural consignment from Sahnewal included packaged food products and machinery parts.
How will the service operate?
The train will run on a round-trip basis for six years, giving businesses an additional rail option for moving goods between the two regions.
The service is a leased Parcel Cargo Express Train (PCET). Southern Railway’s Chennai Division awarded the contract to Delhi-based Xtra Freight Forwarder for the period from October 3, 2026, to October 2, 2032.
The southbound leg began earlier. The inaugural run from Mundiyampakkam carried 267.9 tonnes of commercial goods, including garments, automobile parts and electronic goods.
What did railway officials say?
Paramdeep Singh Saini, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Freight) of the Ferozepur Division, said the service would give businesses a convenient freight option and strengthen rail connectivity between industrial hubs in northern and southern India. He described the initiative as part of “efforts to modernise railway parcel services” and widen opportunities for commercial freight movement.
Where is Sahnewal?
Sahnewal Junction is in Punjab’s Ludhiana district and falls under the Firozpur division of Northern Railway. It sits on the Ambala-Attari line, close to Ludhiana’s manufacturing base.
Why does it matter for logistics?
Leased parcel trains offer time-tabled, long-haul rail capacity for smaller consignments that would otherwise travel by road across the country. For traders and manufacturers in Ludhiana and Tamil Nadu, a dedicated round-trip service can lower transit costs and improve predictability on a corridor of more than 2,500 km.
The early loads also point to two-way demand. Garments, auto parts and electronics are moving north from Tamil Nadu, while food products and machinery parts are heading south from Punjab. Balanced loading in both directions is key to the commercial viability of such leased services over the six-year contract.
FAQs
Which stations does the new parcel train connect?
It connects Sahnewal in Punjab with Mundiyampakkam in Tamil Nadu.
How much did the maiden trip from Sahnewal earn?
The first trip earned Northern Railway’s Ferozepur Division ₹15.63 lakh.
What is the train’s capacity?
The train has 16 LHB parcel vans with a combined capacity of 392 tonnes.
Who operates the service and for how long?
Xtra Freight Forwarder holds the lease for six years, from October 3, 2026, to October 2, 2032.
What goods have been carried so far?
The Sahnewal run carried packaged food and machinery parts, while the Mundiyampakkam run carried garments, auto parts and electronic goods.
