In a groundbreaking move, the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala, a premier production unit of the Railways, is set to unveil its most ambitious cargo liner concept—a double-decker coach that combines seating space for passengers on the upper deck with cargo transportation on the lower deck.
RCF’s General Manager, Ashesh Agrawal, confirmed that the first cargo liner concept is likely to be rolled out next month. The unique double-decker coach will undergo a trial run by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), an entity under the Ministry of Railways, upon completion. Once the trial run is successful, more coaches will be manufactured by RCF for regular scheduled cargo liner service on fixed routes.
The cargo liner concept aims to tap into the FMCG and miscellaneous goods market, responding to the increasing demand for the movement of small quantity white goods, especially from the FMCG sector. The Railways’ recent focus on freight movement has proven successful, with freight revenue reaching Rs 1.62 lakh crore during the financial year 2022-23, marking a growth of nearly 15 percent over the previous year.
In addition to the cargo liner coach, RCF plans to manufacture 16 coaches of the Vande Bharat train in the current fiscal year.
