WDFC India's high-speed freight artery connecting key industrial hubs

With innovative multimodal integration, and reduced empty runs, WDFC is a key driver in shifting freight from road to rail, boosting economic growth.

- Nikitha Sebastian

The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) is transforming India’s freight logistics landscape, offering a new blueprint for speed, efficiency, and capacity. Stretching over 1,500 kilometres, this high-capacity, electrified rail network connects the industrial heartlands of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra to key western ports like Mundra, Pipavav, and JNPT in Navi Mumbai. By providing a dedicated route for freight trains, the WDFC significantly reduces congestion on conventional rail lines, slashes transit times, and lowers logistics costs, making it a critical artery in India’s supply chain.

Setting a new standard for freight efficiency

SP Verma, GGM Business Development & Business Analytics at Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), stated, “With the WDFC in full swing, freight train speeds have surged, averaging over 51.5 km/h in FY 2024-25, transporting nearly 62 billion gross tonne kilometres, a marked improvement over the 38.7 billion GTKMs logged in FY 2023-24.”

This uptick in speed is not just a numerical milestone - it reflects a fundamental shift in how freight moves across the country. The corridor's long-haul, double-stack capabilities, combined with a level-crossing-free design, have slashed transit times between the western coast's ports and the National Capital Region (NCR), dramatically boosting overall efficiency.

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