India's First Direct Freight Train Arrives at Nepal Customs Yard, Marking a Major Milestone in Bilateral Trade

In a major boost to India-Nepal trade and connectivity, the first direct commercial freight train carrying canola grains arrived at the Nepal Customs Yard (NCY) in Biratnagar from Kolkata Port on July 20. The 40-wagon train travelled via the Indian Customs Yard at Jogbani, becoming the first commercial cargo service to operate under the amended India-Nepal rail transit framework signed in November 2025. The revised protocol allows direct rail transport of containerised and bulk cargo from Kolkata and Visakhapatnam ports to designated rail terminals in Nepal. Officials said the new service is expected to reduce logistics costs, improve transit efficiency, enhance Nepal's access to Indian ports, and further strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@IndiaInNepal.