COIMBATORE: Pollachi Junction under the Palakkad Railway Division received its first dedicated automobile freight service on Monday. A new modified goods (NMG/MMG) rake carrying 120 Maruti Suzuki cars from Haryana’s Manesar plant arrived at the railway station on Monday evening.Railway sources said the rake, comprising 25 specialised wagons, was loaded with 120 new cars at Maruti Suzuki India Limited’s MSGM facility on Aug 18. The train reached Pollachi Junction at 5.45pm and was positioned for unloading by 5.55pm.For onward movement, 18 vehicle trailers were arranged, each capable of transporting about seven cars per trip. The cars are being moved from Pollachi to Irugur near Coimbatore, from where they will be dispatched to showrooms across Kerala and in Coimbatore, Madurai and Pollachi.Pollachi station currently handles freight such as maize, wheat and rice brought from other states and transported to industries by road. Officials said the automobile consignment added a new freight capability for the junction.Railway officials said the freight charge was about Rs 30 lakh for a 120-car load, while a 260-car load would attract a charge of around Rs 45 lakh. They said the move strengthened the role of the Railways as a cost-effective option for bulk automobile movement.
