Guwahati: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has marked a historic milestone in its freight operations with the successful loading of the first-ever full freight rake from Mendipathar Railway Station recently. This achievement is significant as it represents the first instance of railway freight loading in the state of Meghalaya.
The operation involved the loading of coal from Mendipathar to Jalalgarh, with a complete rake comprising 42 covered wagons being loaded within an impressive time of 8 hours and 30 minutes. The swift and seamless execution highlighted meticulous planning, coordinated teamwork, and the operational preparedness of NFR personnel.
Mendipathar holds special importance as the only railway station in Meghalaya. The station had earlier made its entry into the railway freight map with its first freight unloading on February 4, 2025. Since then, freight activities have witnessed steady growth. Between February and December 2025, a total of 29 mini rakes and six full rakes—equivalent to 20.5 full rakes—were successfully unloaded at the station.
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The commencement of outbound freight loading now establishes Mendipathar as a fully functional freight terminal, capable of handling large-scale freight movement in both directions. Railway officials noted that this development is expected to provide a major boost to Meghalaya’s local economy by enabling reliable, economical, and efficient transportation of goods, particularly benefiting hilly and hard-to-reach areas.
The expanded freight operations are set to support regional industries, improve market access for locally produced commodities, and ensure cost-effective movement of essential goods, thereby strengthening overall economic activity in the region.
