India's first direct commercial container freight train reaches Biratnagar, Nepal
Indian Railways said on 28 July 2026 that the first-ever direct commercial container freight train ran from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard in Nepal under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol.
Summary
Indian Railways operated the first-ever direct commercial container freight train from Kolkata Port to the Biratnagar Customs Yard in Nepal. The 40-wagon train carried canola and ran under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, allowing containerised cargo to move directly without transshipment at the border and cutting transit time, logistics costs and handling. It builds on the Jogbani (India)–Biratnagar (Nepal) broad-gauge link inaugurated in June 2023; direct commercial movement became possible after a revised Letter of Exchange was signed in November 2025.
Key facts
- Route
- Kolkata Port – Biratnagar Customs Yard (Nepal)
- Train
- 40 wagons, canola consignment
- Framework
- Revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol
- Benefit
- No transshipment at the border
- Rail link
- Jogbani–Biratnagar broad gauge, inaugurated June 2023
- Enabled by
- Revised Letter of Exchange, November 2025
Practice MCQs 2 questions
India's first direct commercial container freight train to Nepal, reported in July 2026, ran between which two points?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Kolkata Port and Biratnagar
The 40-wagon train ran from Kolkata Port to the Biratnagar Customs Yard in Nepal under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol.
The direct rail freight service to Biratnagar builds on the broad-gauge cross-border link from which Indian station?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Jogbani
It builds on the Jogbani (India)–Biratnagar (Nepal) broad-gauge rail link inaugurated in June 2023.