Three major logistics and rail companies in Asia have collaborated to launch the first-ever India-Kazakhstan container train, marking a significant milestone in international freight transport. This new service, which will pass through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, is designed to facilitate more efficient trade and logistics between the countries, cutting down delivery times and expanding transport networks across the region.
The initiative is being driven by Kedentransservice, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company of Kazakhstan. Other key partners include Uztemiryulcontainer, the freight forwarding arm of Uzbekistan Railways, and the Transport and Logistics Centre of Turkmenistan (TULM). These companies have come together to offer a seamless and reliable rail-based solution to meet the growing demand for containerised transport along this route.
The inaugural train, carrying 12 twenty-foot containers filled with ceramic tiles, departed from the port of Mundra, India’s first private port, located in Gujarat towards the Sorokovaya station in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Mundra port has long served as a major hub for Indian exports, and this new container train service adds an exciting new option for transporting goods from India to Central Asia.
Notably, this route had previously been used by Uztemiryulcontainer to transport containers from Indian ports like Mundra, Nhava Sheva, and Chennai to Uzbekistan. Goods were shipped by sea from India to the Port of Bandar Abbas in Iran, and then transported by rail from Sergeli station in Uzbekistan. However, this newly launched service significantly expands the route for the first time in a more direct rail connection between India and Kazakhstan.
The journey spans a total distance of 1,585 kilometers by sea and 4,300 kilometers by rail. The estimated delivery time for the entire route is approximately 25-30 days, depending on the port workload at Bandar Abbas. This time frame is expected to provide significant time savings compared to traditional shipping methods, which typically take longer.
The launch of this service is part of a larger strategy to develop the container transport capacity along the eastern route of the North – South Corridor, which connects the countries of India, Iran, Central Asia, and beyond. This corridor is poised to revolutionise regional trade by significantly reducing delivery times and transport costs while offering greater logistical flexibility. Importers and exporters in all participating nations are expected to benefit from expanded opportunities for cross-border trade, as the corridor streamlines the flow of goods across key international markets.
The India-Kazakhstan container train officially began its journey on March 4, 2025. It is expected to reach its destination at the end of March or the beginning of April, marking the successful implementation of this groundbreaking transportation service.
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