Discover Super Vasuki, India's longest train, stretching 3.5 km with 295 wagons. Learn about this record-breaking freight train and its significance in Indian Railways.
The Indian Railway system is so vast that 25 million passengers travel by train daily to reach their destinations. Compared to other modes of transport, trains offer a more affordable and enjoyable journey, which is why they are the preferred choice for most people.
There are various types of trains in India, including Passenger, Express, Super Fast, Metro, MMTS, Goods, and several others, each operating according to regional needs. Recently, the central government introduced the Vande Bharat trains to provide passengers with a faster and more efficient means of travel to their destinations.
Apart from these, India also has trains that run at slower speeds, luxury trains offering premium facilities, and high-speed trains. Now, let’s explore the longest train in India, featuring the most number of coaches.
That train is a goods train, and typically, goods trains have around 25 to 50 coaches. However, the train you're about to learn about has an astonishing 295 coaches. Due to its massive length, this train also requires more engines, with six engines used to power the 295-coach train.
You will be amazed to learn the length of this train; it stretches an incredible 3.5 km. It takes about an hour for this massive train to pass through any station. The name of this longest and largest train is Super Vasuki. This train primarily operates between Korba in Chhattisgarh and Rajnandgaon in Nagpur.
Vasuki is the name of the serpent that coils around Lord Shiva's neck and is regarded as the king of snakes. According to mythology, Vasuki was also used during the churning of the ocean of milk. Inspired by this powerful figure, the longest and largest train, with the most coaches, was named Super Vasuki to symbolise strength and majesty.
The Super Vasuki train carries an impressive 27,000 tonnes of coal on each trip. It takes 11 hours and 20 minutes to travel between Korba and Rajnandgaon. Due to its immense size and weight, this train achieved a Guinness World Record. It was launched on 22nd January 2021 and operates through the Raipur division of the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone.