2 more cherry cargo trains booked from Jammu railway division

Jammu, June 1: After the successful initiative of the departure of the first cherry cargo train (parcel van) from Katra to Mumbai, Jammu Railway Division has two more indents (registration of wagon demand) for the loading of cherries.

According to Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) Uchit Singhal, these indents for loading i.e., formal requests by consignors to railways for wagon supply to load goods, are from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station and one from Jammu Railway Station.

“They (cherries) will be loaded in parcel vans in the coming days and transported to their destination stations,” Singhal informed media persons.

Earlier on May 31, creating a sort of history after the formation of Jammu Railway Division, the first cherry cargo train (parcel van) left from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station for Bandra Terminus.

This first of its kind initiative to capture “perishable traffic” – the Parcel Van (VP) indent was earlier scheduled to depart from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station to Bandra on June 3, 2025.

However, the initiative was preponed on the request of Kashmir fruit growers.

“After the formation of Jammu Division, a unique initiative has been taken by the Railways, Fruit Producers Associations mainly Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Association and the Horticulture Department of Jammu and Kashmir by loading cherries in the first parcel van from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to Bandra Terminus. May 31, 2025 will be counted as a historic day in Jammu Division of Northern Railway,” Singhal had told media persons, after the departure of the first cherry cargo train, which was scheduled to reach Bandra within about 30 hours.

The 24 tonnes of cherry fruit were transported from Katra through train number 12472.

Singhal said that it was made possible after a lot of discussions with the fruit growers associations and horticulture department of Jammu Kashmir.

“It is heartening that the traders have given priority to rail transport instead of road transport. This is a good beginning due to which the economy of Jammu and Kashmir region will also get strengthened. As I’ve said that it will be a win-win situation for both railways and fruit growers and the horticulture department and in turn the economy of the J&K region. Along with increase in revenue, the confidence of traders would also increase on rail transport,” Singhal had reiterated.