Guwahati/Aizawl, Oct 2 (NationPress) The Railways has experienced a remarkable response from passengers and freight clients following the inauguration of the 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang railway line in Mizoram and the initiation of freight services from Molvom in Nagaland, officials announced on Thursday.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, noted that within a few weeks of operations, both passenger and freight services have yielded impressive results, demonstrating the community's reliance on railways as a vital component for growth and progress.

Since the introduction of passenger train services from Sairang on September 13, there has been an overwhelming response from travelers, with many trains experiencing occupancy rates exceeding full capacity.

Moreover, Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, now stands as the fourth capital city in the Northeast connected by rail, joining Guwahati, Agartala, and Itanagar, following the inauguration of the Bairabi-Sairang railway project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 13.

The Prime Minister also launched three new trains after the project inauguration. These include the Sairang-Anand Vihar (Delhi) Rajdhani Express (weekly), Kolkata-Sairang-Kolkata Express (tri-weekly), and Guwahati-Sairang-Guwahati Express (daily). According to CPRO Sharma, the Sairang-Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi) Rajdhani Express achieved a remarkable 162.5% occupancy, while its return service recorded 158.3%. The Guwahati services also saw robust demand, with the Guwahati-Sairang Express reaching 100.1% occupancy, including full bookings in the sleeper class, while the Sairang-Guwahati Express nearly maintained a 100% occupancy.

The newly inaugurated Kolkata services also received an excellent response, with the Sairang-Kolkata Express reporting nearly 100% occupancy, while the return service clocked in at 144.8%, with the sleeper class at about 144% occupancy. These trends clearly indicate a strong demand for direct and dependable rail connectivity to and from Mizoram, according to officials.

On the freight side, eight rakes were unloaded at Sairang station by September 30. The initial rake arrived on September 14, transporting 21 wagons of cement from STAR Cement Siding, located near Guwahati. This was followed by three rakes of stone chips, one rake of automobiles, one rake of RMC, and one rake of sand from Bairabi. The first parcel consignment from Sairang was booked on September 19, 2025, transporting Anthurium flowers to Anand Vihar Terminal via the parcel van of the Sairang-Anand Vihar Terminal, Delhi Rajdhani Express.

The newly established Molvom station in Nagaland also commenced freight operations in September. The first inward rake, comprising 41 wagons of cement from Telangana, was successfully placed at Molvom on September 24. This was followed by the first outward rake on September 29, which loaded 42 wagons of stone chips from Molvom to Jirania in Tripura.

According to NFR CPRO, the increasing demand for both passenger and freight services demonstrates how railway connectivity is revolutionizing lives in the Northeast. Beyond mere convenience, these new routes promise economic growth, enhanced market access for local goods, and fresh opportunities for trade and employment.