Indian Railways has launched scheduled, commodity-specific cargo trains to enhance freight efficiency and connectivity across northern India.

Four dedicated services include the Annapurna Service (Ludhiana–Varanasi) for foodgrains, Gati-Vahan Service (Farrukhnagar–Lucknow) for automobiles, Niryaat Cargo Service (Garhi–Mundra Port) for containers, and Anantnag Cement Cargo Service (Roopnagar–Anantnag) for cement.

These services offer predictable transit schedules, reducing travel times significantly—for example, the Gati-Vahan Service cuts automobile transit from 70 to 28 hours. Initially trialed, the services now have strong industry support from FCI, exporters, Maruti Suzuki, and cement companies.

Advance scheduling improves labour and truck deployment, boosting operational efficiency. Indian Railways aims to provide reliable, world-class freight services, strengthen supply chain efficiency, and support trade, industry, and regional growth.