Indian Railways achieved another milestone on Thursday when the first full-length freight train arrived in south Kashmir's Anantnag district with a 42-BCN wagon rake carrying rice. The train reached Kashmir Valley through the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL).
"Northern Railway's Jammu Division is strengthening its logistics system day by day. In this series, achieving another significant milestone, the Jammu Division has successfully transported a full rake (42 BCN) goods train loaded with rice to the Anantnag Goods Terminal in the Kashmir Valley within 24 hours," Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Division, told International Business Times.
Earlier, a foodgrain goods train of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) with 21 BCN wagons had departed from Ajitwal Goods Shed of Firozpur Division and reached Anantnag Goods Terminal on December 21, 2025. It carried approximately 1,384 tonnes of foodgrains.
"Under the guidance of Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal and after continuous discussions with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), this initiative will help in saving logistics costs and streamlining the supply chain," Singh said, adding, "Further strengthening the food supply chain, a full rake of rice was successfully loaded from Sangrur Goods Shed of Ambala Division on January 21. It had 42 BCN wagons with a total weight of approximately 2,768 tonnes. This full-rake goods train is expected to reach Anantnag Goods Terminal in less than 24 hours from its loading point."
This development is expected to boost the food supply chain and distribution network in the Valley. The Railways and the Food Corporation of India have jointly initiated this foodgrain goods train service for Kashmir, which is seen as a significant step towards strengthening the supply chain and promoting economic development.
The grain-laden goods trains will reach Kashmir from Punjab without hindrance and in much less time compared to road transport. In the future, grains and other essential food items are also expected to reach the Kashmir Valley directly from various parts of the country by rail, benefiting local traders as well as the general public.
Commenting on the arrival of the full rake of FCI foodgrain wagons, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal said, "This is a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir. The successful arrival of the first rake of 42 BCN wagons signifies a significant increase in freight transportation and logistics capacity in the region. This will not only facilitate the movement of goods but also greatly ease the supply of essential commodities to local traders and the general public."
He further said that in the coming days, the operation of FCI foodgrain trains by the Railways will play a major role in strengthening the economy, adding that such initiatives will further boost the grain supply chain and distribution network in the Valley.
Earlier in September 2025, the USBRL witnessed a historic milestone with the successful run of the first exclusive freight train of the Army, from BD Bari near Samba to Anantnag.
This was strategically significant as it gave a boost to the logistics capability of the Army.
The train carried 753 metric tonnes of Advance Winter Stocking (AWS) load for the Army units and formations stationed in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a decisive turning point in the AWS operations. This initiative underscores the Army's ongoing capability development efforts to ensure operational preparedness in challenging Himalayan terrain.
Earlier, logistic support to Kashmir depended upon road convoys, and in the winters of monsoons, these were often disrupted due to snow and landslides. The rail link to Kashmir would also benefit logistic support further on to the Kargil and Ladakh sectors.
