Category Archives: Rail/Road

Locus has announced a new integration with Lytx® to ensure sustainable transportation operations with the next generation of fleet management technology. While Lytx provides GPS location information on vehicles, Locus uses the information to prepare the most optimised route. Additionally, Locus can utilise the planned route and location information to compare planned versus actual performance as well as power analytics and insights. The combined product offering of Locus and Lytx will enable fleet managers to optimise the total cost of ownership (TCO) driven by fuel economy monitoring, driver analytics, visibility, compliance management, and predictive maintenance alerts. For fleets, this smart management platform will help with higher asset utilisation, optimised route planning, better driver communication, and seamless interactions with shippers and warehouses, translating into cost and time savings for the fleet managers. “This partnership offers the perfect blend of analytics and routing capabilities to our customers,” said Krishna Khandelwal, Chief Business Officer, Locus, in adding, “The optimised routing reduces both capital and operational costs for local distribution while increasing service levels and revenue-generating activities.” “Many fleet managers today leverage multiple technologies and are looking for ways to consolidate so they can save time and focus on things that matter more,” says Frank Schneider, Director of Integrations & Partnerships at Lytx. “This integration will allow customers of Locus and Lytx to have a seamless view of all the data they need from both systems, so they can make informed decisions in an instant. Fleet managers can keep track of their vehicles through GPS, get insights into driving behaviors through our proprietary video and machine vision and artificial intelligence (MV+AI) offering, dispatch technicians, and route vehicles.”

Railways undertook a successful trial run of double stacked dwarf container train from Mehsana (Gujarat) to JN Port on March 3, 2021. The ‘dwarf’ containers provides 67 per cent increase in volume when double-stacked and can carry a weight of 71 tons, against 40 tons by an ISO container. Indian Railways has given 17 per cent discount on haulage cost for double stack dwarf container trains compared to double stack ISO container trains coupled with additional volume benefit. JN Port is in the process of finalising an Operator for “Management, Maintenance and Operation of Dedicated Dwarf Container Depot (D-Depot) inside the Port area at JNPT”. Inside the D-Depot, ISO EXIM containers will be destuffed/restuffed and then re-stuffed in Dwarf Containers for further movement on rail to and from JN Port. The train with five wagons of double stacked dwarf containers arrived at 11:30 hours and departed at 13:00 hours. The concept of Dwarf container would be game changer as the rail movement of EXIM cargo through double stacked dwarf containers would significantly provide cost advantage to the customers and enhance rail traffic at JN Port.

Tata Motors has launched its latest offering in M&HCV segment – the Tata Signa 3118.T – India’s first 3-axle 6×2 (10 wheeler) rigid truck with 31 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). The Tata Signa 3118.T offers a unique blend of value proposition in terms of both, revenue and operating cost, for its customers. With a 3,500kg* higher certified payload than the corresponding 28-tonne GVW rigid truck and equivalent cost of operations with similar fuel, tyre and maintenance cost as a 28-tonne truck, this product is conceived to significantly enhance the net operating profit for its customers by ~45%* over a 28-tonne truck. The incremental investment on the Signa 3118.T, over the corresponding 28-tonne truck, can be recovered in less than one year of operations and followed by years of incremental earnings. Commenting on the launch of the new model, Rajesh Kaul, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “The Signa 3118.T is a landmark in Tata Motors’ journey towards customer excellence. The model is evidence of unmatched customer-focused engineering and unique value positioning by Tata Motors. Value features like fuel economy switch, gear shift advisor, ICGT brakes, Fleet Edge telematics system with inbuilt anti-fuel theft, reverse parking assistance perfectly complement the pioneering vehicle design exceeding the expectations of the new-age customer. The Lx version also comes with air conditioning and unitised wheel bearings. This model expands the array of choice for customers seeking to enhance their profitability through revenue growth model”. The Tata Signa 3118.T, with its 12.5-tonne dual tyre lift axle configuration, marks the value discovery of white space in M&HCV segment. It can operate at 31-tonne GVW with the lift axle down and …

In spite of Covid challenges, on February 28, 2021, Indian Railways has surpassed last year’s cumulative freight loading for same period corresponding. Freight figures continue to maintain the high momentum in terms of loading, earning and speed in the month of February 2021 as well for Indian Railways. According to the release shared by Ministry of Railways, loading on February 28 crossed 5 million tonnes; Indian Railways cumulative freight loading was 1102.17 million tonnes for this year, as on 28 February 2021, which is higher compare to last year for the same period (1102.1 million tonnes). On a month to month basis, up to February 28, 2021, Indian Railways loading was 112.25 million tonnes, which is almost 10 % higher compared to loading up to February 28 of last year. (102.21 million tonnes). On day to day basis, on 28th February, 2021, the freight loading of Indian Railways was 5.23 million tonnes, which is 36% higher compare to last year’s loading for the same date (3.83 million tonnes). The average speed of Freight Trains in the month of February 2021 was 46.09 kmph which is more than double as compare to last year for the same month (23.01 kmph). On 28th February, the average speed of freight trains was 47.51 kmph compare to 23.17 kmph last year for the same date which is also more than double. Also in the month of February 2021 Indian Railways earned Rs 11096.89 crores from freight loading which is 7.7% higher compare to last year’s earnings for the same period (Rs 10305.02 crores). On 28th February 2021 Indian Railways earned Rs 509.44 crores from freight loading which is 34% higher compare to last year’s …

Gateway Rail Freight (GatewayRail) has flagged off its first dedicated round-trip export Service between ICD Viramgam and Nhava Sheva Port for India’s dairy giant, Amul – Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). The exporters in the Ahmedabad region have been facing a lot of difficulty due to the ongoing crisis of shortage of shipping line containers. To address this issue, Gateway Rail Freight decided to provide dedicated round trip services between ICD Viramgam and various ports which brings in empty containers in to the Ahmedabad region in the inward direction, and carries export laden containers to various ports in the outward direction. Gateway Rail has been pioneer in providing dedicated weekly train services for imports and exports carried by all major shipping lines and major customers. These dedicated services are matched with vessel cut-offs in the case of exports, and vessel arrival for imports. The company operates a fleet of 31 train sets and has an overall annual handling capacity of over 600,000 TEUs.

Gati-KWE has announced that it will launch its largest Surface Transhipment Centre (STC) in Delhi, in June this year which is spread over 1.5 lakh sq. ft area. To build the facility, Gati-KWE has taken up space at Allcargo Logistics’ 1.8 million sq. ft. logistics park at Farukh Nagar. Located on Western Peripheral Expressway in Delhi, the state-of-the-art, tech enabled STC will offer superior transit time, accuracy in cargo delivery and high locational advantage of access to all major National Highways. The company has plans to come up with four more STCs in the near future. Apart from consolidating Gati-KWE’s logistics operations on the outskirts to decongest the city, the STC adheres to the green belt requirement. The facility has been conceptualised to achieve economy of scale and provide unparalleled customer service. It will have the capacity to process cargo for short-haul deliveries in North India and long-haul movements across the country. “We are setting up our largest STC in Delhi because the region has been witnessing robust economic growth. The advanced express logistics infrastructure at the facility with enhanced operational efficiency, productivity and throughput will emerge as a key enabler of economic growth in that region. The STC will have the capability to process and transport a massive volume of cargo thanks to the technology integration in the operations and time-defined short-haul and long-haul connectivity,” said Bala Aghoramurthy, Deputy Managing Director, Gati. Gati-KWE’s STC in Delhi will benefit its customers by offering express trucking routes across the country to facilitate faster cargo movement and improved transit time. Gati-KWE is also working towards building competence for enabling short-haul movement from the Farukh Nagar STC to Delhi/NCR and the entire North …

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India flagged off goods train on newly electrified Manigram-Nimtita Section. Babul Supriyo, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India and other dignitaries were also present during the video conferencing. Speaking on the occasion Goyal said that as Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Our efforts will be directed towards making the state of West Bengal a premier state in trading & business activity in the country. Railways can play an important role in development of West Bengal by expanding passenger connectivity, by expanding connectivity of freight trains, ensuring availability of raw materials & moving the products from West Bengal to all parts of the country.” The Minister also dedicated to the Nation newly electrified Manigram-Nimtita Section, Road Under Bridge (RUB) near Malda and at Manigram, five Foot Over Bridges at Khagraghat Road, Lalbagh Court Road, Tenya, Dahaparadham & Niyalishpara stations and two Foot Over Bridges at Sujnipara & Basudebpur stations, all under Eastern Railway’s Malda Division through video conferencing.

International Cargo Terminals (ICT), through its subsidiary Delhi International Cargo Terminal (DICT) and CMA CGM announce the start of the second weekly block train between Mundra and Sonepat. With this second weekly block train, CMA CGM and DICT assure more efficient dedicated services for their customers based in the region by helping them bring their cargo to locations on time. The two weekly trains will run between Mundra to DICT Sonepat on Tuesday/Wednesday for the first block train and Saturday/Sunday for the second block train DICT started the first block train for CMA CGM in August 2019 and to date, the two companies have jointly handled 86 block trains. This second weekly block train between Mundra port and Sonepat is one of several initiatives the CMA CGM Group has implemented to boost capacity to meet its customers’ needs and make the shipping and logistics supply chain as seamless as possible. CMA CGM is developing sustainable door-to-door solutions to allow customers to reduce the carbon footprint of transported goods significantly. Compared to cargo movement via truck, the block train option reduces CO2 emissions by up to 67%. At the start of the second block train service from Mundra to Sonepat, Atit Mahajan, General Manager, CMA CGM India, said, “CMA CGM Group is on a strategic expansion in India keeping the requirements of our customers as our prime focus. This second train service from Mundra to NCR region will allow our customers to benefit from an extended guaranteed capacity coupled to more flexibility with two departures per week.” Two major Groups are committed to providing reliable solutions for their Indian customers. Present in India for more than 30 years, the CMA CGM …

CEVA Logistics has successfully completed a full RORO charter for almost 4,000 cars between South Korea and Libya, working in close cooperation with its parent company, the CMA CGM Group. The two companies chartered a specialist car-carrying RORO vessel as part of a cross-selling initiative. CEVA Logistics and CMA CGM teams worked in tandem to source and charter a specialist vessel along with contracting and loading. The January 2021 movement follows on from a similar successful charter in December 2019 where an equivalent number of cars were also moved from Incheon Port in South Korea to Misurata in Libya. For this second automotive charter, the vessel Lake Wanaka arrived at Incheon in early January where CEVA Logistics Korea teams monitored and supervised loading operations to the port. Almost 4,000 cars, SUVs and small trucks were successfully loaded over a four-day period despite difficult weather conditions including snow. In 2019, South Korea exported some 460,000 used cars overseas– primarily to the Middle East and Africa. In recent months, many exporters in Korea have expressed concern about limited transport options. Thus, CEVA Logistics and CMA CGM worked in close collaboration to offer pure car exporters in the country a specialist vessel as well as a local guarantee insurance company to eliminate any credit issues. Both teams also worked very closely with the Incheon Port Authority and those in Libya to ensure smooth port operations including vessel berthing and car loading, stowing and lashing and then timely unloading operations at destination. Do Young Kim Managing Director Korea, says CEVA Logistics, “Our extensive capabilities in the automotive industry were on full show with this RORO charter and the smooth collaboration with our colleagues at …

The CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics has announced the launch of CMA CGM – GatewayRail PYTHON Train Service on February 1, 2021 on Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) from New Kishangarh Junction, Rajasthan. The two Double stack ‘Ship to Rail’ dedicated trains, one leaving from Mundra and the other from Pipavav, were clubbed at New Kishangarh Junction for the onward journey on the WDFC to New Ateli Junction and were split from there for GatewayRail’s Inland Container Depot – Gurugram (Garhi Harsaru). Western DFC will benefit industries in Gurgaon, Manesar, Rewari, Neemrana industrial areas of Haryana and Rajasthan and ensure faster rail transportation of international cargo between the National Capital Region and Mundra, as well as Port Pipavav ports in the state of Gujarat. On the achievement, Atit Mahajan, MD, CMA CGM India said, “The Python Rail service is one of the premier service and will be a game changer in the industry. This service is being run in the dedicated freight corridor and will significantly reduce the transit time. It will increase our cargo capacity and will also enhance our intermodal offerings to our customers. The Western dedicated freight corridor is one of the visionary projects of the Government of India and it surely will boost the existing intermodal infrastructure in the country.”