NOL to expand IndiaLinx in the near future

India - Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) intends to develop its joint venture Indian container rail service IndiaLinx over the next few months.

The Singapore-based shipping and logistics group believes that the container rail service is positioned for continued growth in the upcoming months, "with train services from other container terminals in the national capital region of Delhi to start later this year." NOL added that "the additional services will complement the APL network that serves the Indian market."

IndiaLinx recently marked its first anniversary with steady capacity utilisation rates of over 95%, moving over 31,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during its first year of operations.

The container rail freight service connecting New Delhi and Mumbai was formed by the joint venture between Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) and Hindustan Infrastructure Projects and Engineering (HIPE).

"The synergy between IndiaLinx and NOL's container shipping arm, APL, has resulted in a steady increase in volume on the service," said NOL.

IndiaLinx provides rapid and reliable rail connections with container ships and promises shortened transit times by up to two days, according to its website. It has trucking services to and from inland container depots (ICDs), providing first and last mile connectivity. IndiaLinx is also a single point of contact for the coordination of the inland and ocean portions of transportation in India for shippers.

Under an agreement with the Railway Ministry, the container rail freight service has a 20 year concession to operate container train services on a pan-India basis. This supports the import and export markets which are booming in India by providing optimal transportation services, according to IndiaLinx.