Ambala freight corridor nears full capacity; feasibility study on double track begins

With the Ambala unit of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) reaching near-full capacity during peak operational months, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) has initiated a feasibility study for doubling the tracks on this section.

Of the nearly 2,850-km EDFC, around 400 km between Sahnewal (Punjab) and New Khurja (Uttar Pradesh) falls under the Ambala unit. This stretch is the only single-line section of the corridor; all remaining major portions of the EDFC operate on a double-line system.

Officials said the Ambala unit currently has the capacity to run 52–55 trains a day, including maintenance blocks. On average, the unit operates around 45 trains daily, but during the peak season — from November to March — it handles 50-55 trains.

The corridor has already touched record highs, running 62 trains in a single day, and 59 and 56 trains on two other occasions, exceeding its designed capacity.

The unit handles daily freight traffic including foodgrain, coal, containers and other commodities. With Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals scheduled to open at New Shambhu and New Gulaothi this financial year — and new terminals planned at New Pilkhani and New Gobindgarh next year — goods movement and railway revenue are expected to rise further, officials said. These developments are also likely to spur regional economic growth.

Initially, a 175.1-km stretch from Sahnewal to Pilkhani was operated by the Ambala unit, becoming fully functional in January last year. In April this year, another 220-km section from Khurja to Pilkhani, earlier under the Meerut unit, was also transferred to Ambala for operations and maintenance.

Speaking to The Tribune, Pankaj Gupta, Chief General Manager of the Ambala unit of DFCCIL, said, “A maximum of 2 to 3 trains can be operated in an hour at present, while considering the rising goods train traffic, it will be beneficial for the Railways as well as the industries, if the tracks are doubled.”

He added that the same freight tracks can also support passenger movement during peak travel periods.