Premium

Gaya-Shakur Basti Special makes history as India’s first passenger train to run on Dedicated Freight Corridor

Indian Railways Dedicated Freight Corridor Passenger Train: The DFC, primarily developed to boost freight transportation and enhance logistics efficiency, has now been utilized for this unique operational move.

3 min readUpdated: Oct 30, 2025 04:15 PM IST

While train services will remain unaffected on the intervening night of November 21 and 22, a series of changes will be enforced from November 22. (Image: North Central Railway)

Dedicated Freight Corridor Passenger Train: Indian Railways (IR) has entered a new era of passenger train operations with the successful run of an unreserved Puja Special train on the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) network. Last week, the Ministry of Railways permitted the movement of passenger trains on the DFC route.

Following the approval, the national transporter has been operating empty passenger trains on the DFC network. However, during the intervening night of October 29 and 30, for the first time, Indian Railways operated a train carrying passengers on the corridor.

The DFC, primarily developed to boost freight transportation and enhance logistics efficiency, has now been utilized for this unique operational move.

Also Read | For the first time, Railways allows empty passenger trains to run on Dedicated Freight Corridor – Here’s why

India’s first passenger train to run on DFC network

The Gaya–Shakur Basti Unreserved Puja Special (Train No. 03641) has become the first festival special train of Indian Railways to operate on the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) route. The initiative aims to provide faster and more seamless connectivity.

Also Read | Vande Bharat Sleeper train: Second rake reaches Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho, RDSO begins trial run – check route

Gaya–Shakur Basti Special becomes India’s first passenger train to run on Dedicated Freight Corridor

Speaking to IndianExpress.com, a senior railway official said it was a welcome move for passengers during the festive season. “It is a good decision during festive season,” the official added.

Also Read | India’s first private train: check ticket price vis-a-vis Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Vande Bharat Express

The national transporter permitted the coaching rake movement to enable the operation of a larger number of passenger and express trains during the ongoing festive season. The move will greatly benefit passengers returning from their hometowns after the Chhath Puja festival.

Dedicated Freight Corridors in India

The railways is constructing two Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) viz. Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) from Ludhiana to Sonnagar (1337 Km) and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) to Dadri (1506 Km).

Anish Mondal

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Recommendations...

Apr 20: Latest News

Live Blog