Starting June 3, Indian Railways will operate its first-ever dedicated cargo train to transport cherries from Katra (Jammu) to Mumbai. The refrigerated parcel service will offer a faster, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to air freight for Kashmir’s cherry growers.

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• Train to run from Katra to Mumbai’s Bandra Terminal starting June 3
• First cargo will carry 24 tonnes of cherries in a temperature-controlled van
• Journey to complete in just over 30 hours, preserving fruit freshness
• Major relief for cherry growers dependent on costly air freight till now
• Cheaper rail option expected to improve profit margins for small growers
• Initiative led by Indian Railways with Horticulture Dept & growers’ associations
• Aims to ease road congestion and reduce spoilage during transport
• Demand rising for flexible freight booking; current system mandates full 25-ton van payment
• Talks ongoing with Railways for scalable, sustainable transport model
• Success may lead to regular cherry cargo trains in harvest season