Now Reading: Concor’s first long haul double stack train runs from JNPT
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Concor’s first long haul double stack train runs from JNPT
Container Corporation of India (Concor) ran its first long haul double stack container train on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) on August 21. The 422-km journey from JNPT to Vadodara carried…
Container Corporation of India (Concor) ran its first long haul double stack container train on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) on August 21. The 422-km journey from JNPT to Vadodara carried 360 TEUs, showing the WDFC is now operational and that longer double stacking is a practical reality.
The move could reduce congestion and improve asset utilisation compared to current single stack operations of 90 TEUs, cutting the number of train moves and delivery times. The West Asia crisis has inflated truck freight rates due to rising diesel prices, which along with the WDFC, may lift rail container volumes from Q3FY27.
A brokerage has maintained an 'Add' rating on Concor with a target price of Rs 540, valuing the core business using a DCF methodology. It sees the WDFC connection and near-term rail modal share gains from higher truck freight rates as supporting a share price rise.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Concor has long been dependent on the DFC to unlock double stacking at scale. The WDFC's eastern arm has been operational for some years, but the western stretch linking JNPT, India's largest container port, to the northern hinterland is the real prize for rail freight. Double stacking can nearly double the payload per train without adding track, which directly addresses the cost disadvantage rail has faced against trucks on long hauls. The key number to watch is how quickly Concor scales this from a single run to regular services, and whether the freight rate arbitrage from diesel-led truck inflation holds. The next quarterly volume data from Concor will be the first real test of whether this operational milestone translates into market share gains.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
