India’s First Direct Freight Train Rolls Into Nepal’s Biratnagar From Kolkata Port
Marking a milestone in cross-border logistics and trade infrastructure, Indian Railways has successfully operated the first-ever direct commercial container freight train from Kolkata Port to the Biratnagar Customs Yard in Morang District, Nepal. Carrying a 40-wagon consignment of 1,225 tonnes of canola, the train completed its journey via the Jogbani–Biratnagar broad-gauge rail link, bypassing the need for tedious border transshipment.
The historic run marks the operationalization of the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol following the Letter of Exchange (LoE) signed between the two nations. By enabling seamless, end-to-end rail transportation of containerized and bulk cargo directly from Indian ports to Nepalese customs yards, the new system significantly cuts transit times, reduces logistics costs, and minimizes cargo handling risks. Officials emphasized that this initiative strengthens cross-border trade efficiency, deepens bilateral economic cooperation, and offers a more sustainable, environmentally friendly freight route between the neighboring countries.
