Fourth train to run between ICTT and ICD

KOCHI: With the increase in the volume of  cargo from the Inland Container Depots (ICD), one more train has been inducted to conduct service between the ICD at Bangalore and the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT). This will be the fourth train connecting Vallarpadam to Bangalore.“Though the Container Corporation of India  (CONCOR) which runs the train services between the ICDs and ICTT has not formally announced the fourth train, it started the service this month,” said sources in the Dubai Port World(DPW), which operates the terminal.“The flow of cargo from Bangalore ICD was nominal when the ICTT was commissioned in  February this year. It was around just 200-300 TEUs per month then. Since then there has been considerable growth in the flow of cargo during the past six months.By July-August the volume of cargo went up to around 800 TEUs per month. We are expecting another train soon that connects the terminal with Tuticorin ICD,” they said.Till June this year there was only one train per week to connect Bangalore with Vallarpadom. In July it became two trains per week and later three per week in August. The existing three trains are scheduled services. They travel between Kochi and Bangalore on fixed days only, but the fourth one is an ad hoc service which runs as per the requirement.Gherkins, garments, granite and machinery constitute a major chunk of consignment from Bangalore ICD. Shipping major CMA CGM has started direct services connecting ICTT to European and African ports.The weekly service to Africa began in May when the cashew season commenced. CMA CGM had started direct service to Europe by the end of July.