Dedicated Freight Corridor
Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)
Overview
Dedicated Freight Corridors are high-speed, high-capacity rail freight lines being built exclusively for goods trains so that passenger and freight traffic can run on separate networks. Indian Railways is constructing two main corridors—Eastern DFC (EDFC) and Western DFC (WDFC)—to de-congest the existing Golden Quadrilateral and increase average freight speed from 25 km/h to 70 km/h.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total length under DFC Phase-1 | 2,843 km |
| Eastern DFC (EDFC) route | Ludhiana (Punjab) → Dankuni (West Bengal) |
| Western DFC (WDFC) route | Dadri (UP) → Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Mumbai, Maharashtra) |
| Approved cost (Phase-1, 2018 prices) | ₹81,459 crore |
| Implementing agency | Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. (DFCCIL) |
| Year DFCCIL incorporated | 30 Oct 2006 |
| EDFC length | 1,839 km |
| WDFC length | 1,504 km |
| Design speed | 100 km/h (freight) |
| Axle load target | 25-ton (vs 22.5-ton on IR) |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (broad gauge) |
| Signalling system | ETCS Level-2 (LTE-R based) |
| Traction | 100 % electrified (25 kV, 50 Hz) |
| Longest tunnel | 6.6 km (Sohna, WDFC) |
| Longest bridge | 2.3 km across Ganga near Kanpur (EDFC) |
| Multimodal logistics parks (MMLPs) planned | 33 |
| First DFC section opened | 15 Aug 2018 (Dadri-Khurja, 46 km, WDFC) |
| Target completion | 100 % by Dec 2025 |
Important Points
- EDFC is coal-heavy; will decongest coal & steel routes of Howrah-Delhi.
- WDFC is container-heavy; will connect NCR, Rajasthan & Gujarat ports.
- DFCCIL is a PSU under the Ministry of Railways but does not run trains—only owns & maintains infrastructure.
- Freight trains on DFC will be 1.5 km long (BCNHL rakes of 120 wagons).
- Automatic block signalling with 5-minute headway capacity.
- 40 % reduction in transit time & 15 % saving in haulage cost expected.
- Stations are called “Goods Sheds / ICDs”; no passenger amenities.
- 70 % cargo on EDFC is coal for NTPC & IPPs.
- WDFC will handle >60 % of India’s containerised EXIM traffic.
- DFC alignment is fenced throughout—no level crossings.
- DFCCIL has power procurement freedom—open access at 4.5 ₹/kWh.
- RORO & double-stack dwarf containers cleared for 1,800 mm high passage.
- Freight corridors feed into future high-speed passenger corridors (Delhi-Ahmedabad, etc.).
- 2 new DFCs proposed: East-Coast (Kharagpur-Vijayawada) & East-West (Bhusawal-Kharagpur).
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Parent ministry & incorporating year of DFCCIL.
- Combined length and cost of Phase-1.
- Eastern vs Western corridor terminal stations.
- Design axle load and maximum speed of freight trains.
- First commissioned section and its inauguration date.
Practice MCQs
1. Which is the implementing agency of Dedicated Freight Corridors in India?
Answer: DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd.)
2. The total sanctioned length of Phase-1 DFC is approximately
Answer: 2,843 km
3. Which corridor connects Dadri (UP) to JNPT (Mumbai)?
Answer: Western DFC
4. What is the target axle load for DFC routes?
Answer: 25 ton
5. The first stretch of DFC thrown open to traffic was
Answer: Dadri-Khurja (46 km)
6. In which year was DFCCIL incorporated?
Answer: 2006
7. The longest bridge on EDFC crosses which river?
Answer: Ganga (near Kanpur)
8. What is the designed maximum speed of freight trains on DFC?
Answer: 100 km/h
9. Which signalling system is being deployed on DFC?
Answer: ETCS Level-2
10. The proposed East-Coast DFC will primarily run between
Answer: Kharagpur and Vijayawada
BETA
