New Delhi, July 29 -- The Indian Railways on Tuesday achieved a major milestone in strengthening India-Nepal freight connectivity with the successful operation of the first-ever direct commercial container freight train from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard, Nepal.

According to the Ministry of Railways, the train, comprising 40 wagons carrying a consignment of canola, completed its journey under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol, marking a new chapter in rail-based cross-border freight movement.

The successful operation enables direct rail movement of containerised cargo from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar without transhipment at the border. The new arrangement is expected to substantially reduce transit time, logistics c...