MUMBAI: The Roll On Roll Off (RO – RO) service on Western Railway has commenced on commercial basis with the first rake starting its journey on 20th September, 2018 from Konkan Rly’s Surathkal goods shed in Karnataka and reached at Western Rly’s Karambeli goods shed in Gujarat on 21st September, 2018, late in the evening. This RO RO rake which consists of 25 trucks loaded, with an approximate haulage charge of Rs.1.81 lakhs. The rake will be unloaded at Karambeli and will again be reloaded with trucks from Karambeli goods shed, covering a total distance of 290 kms.
According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, a proposal was received from Konkan Railway...
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Corporation Ltd. (KRCL) for operating Roll on- Roll off services from Karambeli to Roha. This is an attempt for seamless transport of commodities from road to rail and also to provide an environment friendly transportation system. Once the traffic is diverted to Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, W. Rly will generate more capacity to move RO-RO services.
It will be the first of its kind on Indian Railways, the ultimate intermodal transport on the existing track. Earlier, running of RO-RO services was cleared upto Boisar. Later on a trial run was successfully conducted between Kolad to Karambeli.
Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. is utilizing modified BOXN/BRN wagons with standard carrying capacity as conventional type of flat wagons cannot be used for operating RO-RO services. These wagons will accommodate one truck per wagon. This is the first attempt to run RO RO services beyond KRCL. Initially KRCL will attempt to build up traffic.
A committee comprising of Senior Railway Officers was formed to decide the rating of RO-RO traffic on Western Railway, in terms of Railway Board’s guidelines.
The Concept is unique to Indian Railways for running of RO-RO services.The traffic from Surathkal to Karambeli includes plastic granules, Supari, Rubber latex, Cashew oil & Mixed Scrap material. On the return journey heavy goods will be carried.