Private cargo train arrives in Birgunj for the first time in history

KATHMANDU: A private cargo rail has arrived in Nepal for the first time from India. The cargo rail reached dry port at Sisirya Birgunj from Haldiya, India on Wednesday morning at 10:45 pm.

An agreement to revise the Railway Service Agreement (RSA) was done on July 9 to allow private cargo trains at the Nepal border and on the basis of the agreement, the cargo train from Haldiya arrived in Birgunj.

Prior to this, only the trains which were under the ownership of the government of India had entered Nepal.

The agreement had also updated several other portions of the India-Nepal RSA and brought those in line with latest operational and infrastructure status of Indian and Nepalese Railways. It therefore marks another milestone in India’s efforts to enhance regional connectivity under the “Neighborhood First” policy.”

Further, after the agreement, all kinds of cargoes in all categories of wagons that can carry freight on Indian Railways network within India were allowed to carry freight to and from Nepal.

New provisions in the agreement is expected to reduce transportation costs for automobiles and certain other products whose carriage takes place in special wagons. Wagons owned by Nepal Railway Company has also been authorised to carry Nepal-bound freight (inbound and outbound on Kolkata/Haldia to Biratnagar/Birgunj routes) over the Indian Railways network as per IR standards and procedures.

Similarly, the agreement also allowed all authorised cargo train operators which includes public and private container trains operators, automobile freight train operators, special freight train operators or any other operator authorised by Indian Railways will be able to utilize the Indian railway network to carry Nepal’s container and other freight – both bilateral between India and Nepal or third country from Indian ports to Nepal.