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Southern Railway's Innovative Parcel Express: A New Era in Freight Mobility

Enhancing Regional Connectivity and Business Efficiency

Southern Railway's Innovative Parcel Express: A New Era in Freight Mobility

  • 20 Nov, 2025
  • 266

India's First Coast-to-Coast Parcel Express Service

Southern Railway is on the brink of a significant advancement with the introduction of India’s first coast-to-coast parcel express service. This innovative service will connect Royapuram in Chennai with Mangaluru Central, forming a vital logistics corridor that enhances freight mobility across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Tailored to meet business needs, this service operates on a time-tabled, dependable delivery framework.

Launch Schedule and Route Coverage

The much-anticipated service will commence on 12 December, with departures from Mangaluru Central in the afternoon, reaching Chennai the following day. The return journey is scheduled to start on 16 December from Royapuram. Weekly operations will occur on Fridays from Mangaluru and Tuesdays from Chennai. The train will make scheduled halts at major commercial hubs including Salem, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod, facilitating efficient parcel handling at each stop.

Key Features of the Dedicated Parcel Train

This dedicated train will feature high-capacity parcel vans, complemented by luggage-cum-brake vans. Each coach will be labelled for specific destinations to streamline loading and unloading processes. The train's configuration aims to achieve faster turnarounds, reduced congestion, and enhanced parcel management across its route.

Supporting Businesses and Commodities

The service is designed to support a diverse range of commodities, including perishables, white goods, textiles, industrial materials, and consumer products. With predictable transit times, traders and manufacturers can rely on this service for efficient regional distribution. Real-time monitoring will further strengthen punctuality and ensure operational transparency.

Exam-Oriented Facts

This marks the first coast-to-coast parcel express service initiated by Indian Railways, connecting significant business centers across Tamil Nadu and Kerala through a weekly schedule. High-capacity parcel vans constitute the core of the train's composition, and destination-labelled coaches facilitate organized logistics handling at each halt.

Impact on Regional Logistics

The introduction of this service is a strategic move by Southern Railway to boost regional supply chains with cost-effective, modern freight solutions. Its direct connectivity between coastal cities, structured schedules, and integrated tracking systems are anticipated to significantly enhance parcel mobility and support commerce throughout the region.

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