Game changer! India's first direct container train to Nepal cuts time and costs

The train, comprising 40 wagons carrying a consignment of canola, completed its journey under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, marking a new chapter in rail-based cross-border freight movement.

The successful operation enables the direct rail transportation of containerised cargo from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar without the need for transshipment at the India-Nepal border.

"The new arrangement is expected to substantially reduce transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling while improving the efficiency, reliability and competitiveness of cross-border trade between the two neighbouring countries," Indian Railways said while announcing the new connectivity.

The breakthrough has been made possible through the implementation of the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, which facilitates seamless end-to-end rail transportation of freight between India and Nepal.

The achievement builds on the broad-gauge rail link between Jogbani in Bihar and Biratnagar in Nepal, inaugurated in June 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal's then Prime Minister.

Following the signing of the revised Letter of Exchange (LoE) in November 2025, direct commercial rail operations to Biratnagar have now become operational, opening fresh opportunities for bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

According to Indian Railways, the direct freight service is expected to significantly boost the movement of import and export cargo by offering a faster, more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation.

By eliminating multiple handling points and streamlining supply chains, the initiative is expected to benefit exporters, importers, logistics operators and industries engaged in cross-border trade while further strengthening economic ties between India and Nepal.