The local consignments of the Amazon will be carried out by Mumbai’s suburban trains between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kalyan.
The national transporter said the transportation will be carried out by the Central Railway during non-peak hours so that passenger traffic in the local trains of Mumbai remains unaffected.
A total of 8 tonnes of luggage will be transported from Kalyan to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and back (4 tonnes each trip) everyday from 11.00am to 04.00pm. The maximum load per trip will be 1 ton.
The Railways said two escorts will also be permitted to travel with the consignments and their fares will be collected in advance.
This will be a point to point service and no loading or unloading enroute will be done, the Railways added. The Central Railway will start the carrying the consignment as a trial for 3 months and is expected to fetch revenue of ₹6.10 lakh for 3 months.
A similar project was carried out by the Eastern Railway from Sealdah to Dankuni. The consignment is allowed to be carried in vendor compartment alongwith other vendors.
Indian Railways is expecting that it will be able to generate additional revenue without putting any extra stress or burden on an existing system whereas Amazon will be benefitted through reduced transit time.
Separately, the Central Railway said that it has achieved “Mission Zero Scrap” as the national transporter has achieved its target to free each division, workshop and sheds are from scrap material.
Upto mid January of the current financial year, Central Railway have sold Rs. 266 crore worth scrap Rails, P-way material, condemned coaches, wagons and locomotives against Rs. 208 crore worth scarp sale during the corresponding period last year, thus showing an increase of 28 %.
The zone has sold approximately 40,000 metric tonnes (MT) of Scrap Rails and P-Way materials.
In addition to this, condemned Rolling Stock that is 55 wagons, 123 coaches and 12 locomotives were also sold during the year.