Coal in India
Railways and Coal: A Partnership
Coal is the largest single commodity carried by Indian Railways, and freight from coal subsidises passenger fares.
Rail and coal depend on each other.
Share
Coal makes up nearly half of railway freight tonnage.
Revenue
Freight earnings help fund passenger services.
Rakes
Availability of wagons and rakes affects supply to plants.
Constraints
Congestion and prioritisation issues can delay deliveries.
A coal rake
A long train of open wagons brings coal to a thermal plant.
Ignoring transport as a bottleneck
Supply depends on logistics.
Key takeaways
- Coal dominates rail freight.
- Freight subsidises passengers.
- Rake availability matters.
- Congestion causes delays.
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