Container Service

CONTAINER SERVICE:

Container Service is a Multi modal transport system for carriage of cargoes in containers by more than one mode of transport.

Objective of Container Services in Indian Railway

i. To attract high rated road borne traffic for rail movement in containers, with a view of providing a complete door to door service.

ii. To introduce a PPP based inter modal transport in railway.

iii. Consolidation and aggregation of traffic to maximize movement in train loads/wagon loads.

iv. Co-ordination of different modes of transport to avoid wasteful competition.

v. To provide Single window service to the customer.

vi. To Encouraging containerization both for internal as well as import/export cargo.

Advantages of container Service:

i. Containerization involves consolidating mixed general cargoes into standardized container. And it is an essential pre requisite for efficient multi modal transport.

ii. Reduces overall physical distribution costs.

iii. Quicker and safe transit.

iv. Door to door service. Trader can import/export goods from nearby Inland Container Dept (ICD)/Container Freight Station (CFS) without going to sea ports.

v. Easy packaging and Reduce cost in packaging, insurance and documentation.

vi. Easy tracking

vii. Easy handling by gantries, mobile cranes wit reduction in time.

viii. A standard size flat car could move all traffic of varying cargo size.

ix. Freight customer does not have to register a wagon or rake, he has just to order a given number of containers which is send to his premises for loading/unloading and are brought to freight terminals.

x. Cost involved in taking freight to goods shed and taking them to customer premises at the other end is avoided.

Policies of railway in the field of container service:-

Policies/ activities initiated by railway relating to the container service areas under:

i. Private container Operator (PCO)

ii. Inland Container Depot (ICD)/Container Freight Station(CFS)

iii. Container Train Operator (CTO)

iv. Container Rail Terminal (CRT)

v. Hub & Spoke system

Rates for Charging of container traffic:

i. Haulage charge

ii. Container class rate

Steps for Future development of Multimodal Transport/Containerization:

i. Increase port facilities.

ii. Setting up of more ICDs/CFS with adequate facilities for reception/dispatch of freight liners, mechanized loading/unloading facilities for containers, adequate warehousing, expeditious customs check and documentation.

iii. Adequate rail transport between ports and ICDs. These should include running of freight liners on scheduled paths and also land bridging between ports.

iv. Improving roads for moving ISO container.

v. Acquiring cellular container ships by Shipping Corporation of India.

vi. Developing Inland Waterways. Developing computerized information system to keep track on movement of containers so as to enable efficient monitoring of same.

vii. Accepting ICC recognized trading terms, combined transport documents, uniform customs practices.

viii. Development of adequate number of Multi modal transport operator.