Indian Railways launches dedicated fruit train service for Kashmir apple harvest
Indian Railways is making massive logistical preparations for the upcoming 2026 apple season by introducing dedicated fruit train services to speed up the transport of fresh produce from Kashmir to Delhi. As of August 25, 2026, the loading of the first two parcel vans has officially commenced, marking the early launch of this year's crucial agricultural transit initiative. Farmers and traders can now look forward to faster, safer, and more economical transit for their seasonal harvest.
This new transport plan features a daily time-tabled Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service operating on the Adarsh Nagar-Bari Brahman-Budgam route. The first scheduled service on this route is set to begin on September 13, 2025. Trains will depart from Budgam Railway Station at 6:15 AM and arrive at Adarsh Nagar by 5:00 AM the following day, ensuring that fresh Kashmir apples reach the markets in the national capital without any delay.
Strategic Planning and Higher Targets
The Ministry of Railways announced these measures following a high-level strategic meeting held in Srinagar on August 21, 2026, which brought together the Horticulture Department, local traders, and senior railway officials. Building on previous successes, the railways aim to surpass last season's impressive transport volume of 20,000 tonnes.
Each High Capacity Parcel Van coach is specifically designed to carry 23 metric tonnes of apples, and railway authorities are fully prepared to increase train sizes dynamically based on real-time market demand. Uchit Singhal, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager for Jammu, highlighted that the initiative is specially crafted to uplift the local horticulture sector.
How Farmers and Traders Can Participate
To streamline operations and allocate sufficient rakes, railway authorities have requested the Directorate of Horticulture to submit detailed volume estimates within one week. Furthermore, discussions during the Srinagar meeting prioritized expanding apple transportation facilities from the Anantnag and Pampore goods sheds, with a dedicated apple train from Anantnag scheduled to begin operations on September 1, 2026.
Farmers, traders, and aggregators are strongly encouraged to utilize the official portal at www.fois.indianrail.gov.in for submitting their indents. By shifting to rail transport, the region can ensure reliable market access, reduce highway transit risks, and secure better economic returns for the renowned Kashmiri apple harvest.