Kashmir apples travel faster than ever
Jammu, Sep 20: In a big reprieve to fruit-growers and soothing frayed nerves across the region to some extent, the parcel trains, being operated by the Jammu Railway Division of the Northern Railway, have transported 6400 tonnes of apples from Kashmir to other parts of the country in ten days.
To further alleviate the sufferings of the horticulture producers, dealing in perishable commodities, the railways have decided to commence the operation of parcel train services with parcel rakes also from the Baramulla Railway Station terminal.
In fact, Jammu Railway Division also shared shots of the first rake of apples being loaded at Baramulla to cater to the requirements of north Kashmir (Sopore Mandi).
As a significant initiative by the Railways, the parcel train service commenced on September 11, 2025, with two parcel van coaches.
One was destined for Jammu and the other for Adarsh Nagar, Delhi.
Each parcel van coach was loaded with approximately 23 tonnes of goods (apples).
This was considered a historic achievement, as a parcel van coach first reached Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, from Budgam Railway Station in less than 21 hours, and another in Jammu in less than 6 hours.
“Subsequently, on September 15, 2025, the Lieutenant Governor flagged off an eight-parcel van coach train (each with a weight capacity of 23 tonnes) from Srinagar to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi. These eight parcel van trains reached their destination, Delhi, in a significantly faster time than road transport. The Jammu Division of Northern Railway is continuing to operate parcel trains carrying apples from Kashmir to Delhi,” Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Railway Division, Uchit Singhal said.
“Continuing this trend, over 6400 tonnes of apples have been transported from Kashmir to Adarsh Nagar, Delhi, with the supply of both BCN covered wagons and parcel coaches from Anantnag Goods Shed Terminal in Kashmir,” he said.
According to Singhal, the Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) parcel train service, recently launched in Kashmir, successfully facilitated the transportation of apples.
Expanding this parcel train to transport other goods, over 500 tonnes of mustard oil and other food items were transported from Bari Brahmana to Budgam so far, ensuring that essential supplies were not affected due to the disruption in road connectivity.
“The Railways’ intervention has been helpful to traders and growers in transporting their apples. The Railways will soon commence the operation of parcel train services with parcel rakes from the Baramulla Railway Station terminal as well,” Singhal said.
