Trial run marks completion of the entire WDFC: DFCCIL

The successful trial run of freight trains, with operations carried out on the JNPA-New Saphale (Vaitarna) section, marked the completion of the entire Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) on March 31, 2026, as per a communique by DFCCIL. A container train in the down direction (JNPA → New Saphale) departed at 11:50 hours, hauled by an electric locomotive, while in the up direction (New Saphale → JNPA), a container train also departed at 11:50 hours, powered by a diesel locomotive.

It was a proud and historic moment for DFCCIL, the communique highlighted.

Conducted under the leadership of Mr Praveen Kumar, MD of DFCCIL, this trial run signifies the operational readiness of the critical 102 km balance section of the WDFC. It marks a major milestone towards commissioning the corridor for freight operations and demonstrates that the newly commissioned high-rise electrified, high-capacity double-line infrastructure is fully prepared for seamless and efficient movement of goods.

The occasion was graced by Mr Shobhit Bhatnagar, Director/OP&BD; Mr Anurag Sharma, Director/Infrastructure; Mr M. K. Awasthy, ED/Infrastructure; Mr Sandesh Srivastava, ED/Projects; Mr Vikas Srivastava, GGM/S&T; Mr Ran Vijay Singh, GGM/Electrical; Mr Amit Saurastri, GM/CC; and Mr H. G. Tiwari, CGM/Mumbai, along with other senior officers and the dedicated DFCCIL team.

This achievement will add a new chapter to India’s logistics landscape—unlocking faster port connectivity, enhancing supply chain efficiency and enabling greener, more reliable freight movement. The full commissioning of WDFC marks a transformative step in strengthening the nation’s logistics backbone and accelerating economic growth. 

With uninterrupted 

end-to-end connectivity now established, train operations will become significantly more efficient, requiring fewer sets (2 sets) of crew between New Makarpura and New JNPA due to reduced operational handovers and streamlined running. Additionally, freight trains will experience a reduction of nearly four hours in transit time, enabling faster turnaround of rolling stock, improved asset utilisation, enhanced schedule reliability and greater capacity for handling increased freight volumes, the communique added. 

Please visit our youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@ikargos2719 for fortnightly logistics news analysis and more!