Cochin Port-Irugur ICD container train flagged off
18 Jan 2016
Cochin Port Trust and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) entered into an agreement to start a container train service from Vallarpadam, Cochin Port to the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Irugur.
The first service was flagged off on January 16, 2016. According to G Senthilvel, Deputy Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, the train from Irugur would start on Saturdays every week and return from Kochi on Sundays.
Cochin Port Trust has assured CONCOR of minimum volume of cargo. Currently, the port handles about 2,000 TEUs a month (export cargo from Coimbatore and imported cargo) for this region.
For the initial stage, only one service a week was planned. The port expects to get a minimum of 80 TEUs per week. If needed, a second service can be launched.
The port users will face a huge cash advantage because of this container railway. The port trust was looking to tap coastal movement.