NE RAILWAY BUREAU
CHENNAI, OCT 5
Southern Railway has strengthened its rail-based parcel logistics network with the commencement of a Leased Parcel Cargo Express Train (PCET Southern) on a round-trip basis between Mundiyampakkam in Tamil Nadu and Sahnewal Railway Station in Punjab, creating a dedicated freight corridor linking southern India with the industrial belt of Punjab.
The inaugural service commenced from Mundiyampakkam on October 3, 2026, with the first train carrying 267.9 tonnes of commercial consignments, including garments, automobile parts and electronic goods. The initiative is aimed at providing businesses with a dedicated, reliable and cost-effective alternative for moving commercial cargo over long distances.
- Leased Parcel Cargo Express Train connects Mundiyampakkam with Sahnewal
- Six-year contract awarded to Xtra Freight Forwarder for round-trip operations
- First run carries 267.9 tonnes of garments, auto parts and electronic goods
- Digital parcel payment gateway records ₹15.63 lakh payment on inaugural trip
The six-year contract for operating the Leased PCET has been awarded to M/s Xtra Freight Forwarder, Delhi, for the period from October 3, 2026, to October 2, 2032.
The train comprises 16 LHB high-capacity parcel vans and has an overall carrying capacity of 392 tonnes, providing substantial scope for regular movement of commercial consignments between the two regions.
Digital payment marks another first
Adding a digital dimension to the new parcel service, the licensee made a payment of ₹15.63 lakh, inclusive of 5% GST, for the first trip on the Mundiyampakkam–Sahnewal route.
The payment marks the successful implementation of the newly introduced digital payment gateway for parcel loading by Chennai Division, signalling a move towards greater transparency, convenience and technology-enabled parcel operations.
The new PCET is expected to provide a dedicated logistics link between Southern India and the industrial belts of Punjab, facilitating faster movement of commercial goods and strengthening the role of railways in long-distance parcel transportation.
With a sizeable loading capacity and dedicated operations, the service could offer businesses an additional logistics option for transporting goods that require dependable inter-regional movement. It also expands the scope for Indian Railways to participate more actively in the commercial movement of goods beyond conventional freight traffic.
The initiative forms part of Chennai Division’s continuing efforts to modernise parcel services, promote digitalisation and expand rail-based freight opportunities.
For businesses, the new service represents an opportunity to integrate rail into their supply chains, particularly for commercial consignments moving between manufacturing, trading and industrial centres in southern India and Punjab.
The launch also underlines the growing emphasis on leased parcel services and technology-enabled freight operations, with the combination of dedicated capacity and digital payment infrastructure seeking to make railway parcel logistics more accessible and efficient for commercial users.