Srinagar, Aug 26: In a major boost to Kashmir’s apple trade, Northern Railway will start a daily Joint Parcel Product–Railway Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) between Budgam and New Delhi from September to ensure faster and direct transportation of the valley’s apple produce to national markets.
The service has been approved by the Railway Board under letter no. 2025/TC(FM)/11/16 dated August 20, 2025, and will initially operate on a pilot basis for one year.
The first train is expected to leave from Kashmir for Delhi in the last week of September. The train will run with a composition of eight parcel vans (VP) and one second luggage rake (SLR).
As per the timetable, the parcel train will be covering 845 km under electric traction.
The service will depart Adarsh Nagar railway station at 05:30 hrs and reach Budgam at 06:15 hrs the next morning. The return service will leave Budgam at 10:45 hrs, with scheduled halts for loading and unloading.
A senior official at Northern Railways told Rising Kashmir that Budgam will become one of the valley’s key fruit-loading hubs, and the new train is expected to carry thousands of cartons of apples daily to Delhi’s Azadpurmandi and other markets.
“The service will cut dependence on road transport, which often faces delays on the Srinagar–Jammu highway due to landslides, weather, or traffic congestion,” he said.
The official said that with eight parcel vans running daily, large volumes of apples can now reach Delhi markets directly and on time. “The timing of the service coincides with the peak apple harvest season in Kashmir and will offer growers a faster and more reliable way to transport their produce,” he added.
Northern Railway has clarified that the JPP-RCS service is exclusively for parcels, and no passenger will be allowed to board. To ensure compliance, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) will be deployed at originating points, en-route stoppages, and crew-changing stations.
“All commercial rules will apply as per the Railway Board’s policy. Security of consignments will be ensured in consultation with state police,” an official said.
He said this new JPP-RCS service will be a game-changer for Kashmir’s apple economy, providing farmers a direct, daily link to Delhi markets and reducing losses due to delays.
The service will also be available for booking through the Virtual Aggregation Platform (VAP), enabling farmers, traders, and freight operators to reserve space in advance.
Local growers and traders welcomed the announcement by the northern railways and hailed the initiative.
Mohammad Altaf, an apple grower from PattanBaramull, said that each day counts in the apple season. A direct train to Delhi will save us from losses caused by highway closures and ensure better prices for farmers,” he said.
Another grower from Sopore, Mohammad Lateef Jan, said the service would bring stability to the market. “Apples are a delicate crop. If they don’t reach Delhi mandis on time, we lose both quality and price. With this train, our fruit will reach us fresh and quickly,” he said.
While apples form the primary focus during the harvest season, the train will also transport dry fruits, handicrafts, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce consignments.
The pilot project will run for one year, after which the Railway Board will assess performance and demand before deciding on permanent continuation or expansion to other freight corridors.
