Retailers look to container trains for transportation

Business Standard reports that several companies such as Reliance Retail, Transport Corporation of India, Mitsui OSK Lines, Hyundai Merchant Marine and NYK Lines, and The Future Group have shown keen interest in setting up private container train operations. The interest is in response to the Railway Ministry’s invitation for proposals in the second round of licenses for interested parties for container trains.

Currently, only Concor, a public sector company that is controlled by the railway ministry is permitted to run container trains in the country and therefore has a monopoly in the sector. Railways offer a substantial savings as compared to road transport, around a third of the cost of road transport.