Indian Railways has successfully run the country’s longest train, ‘Rudrastra’, setting a new record on the tracks. This massive freight train is 4.5 km long, made up of 354 wagons, and powered by seven
locomotives working in unison.
‘Rudrastra’ began its journey from Ganj Khwaja station in Uttar Pradesh and travelled to Garhwa Road Junction in Jharkhand, covering a distance of around 200 km in just five hours.
Its sheer length and power have made it a talking point among rail enthusiasts. But while ‘Rudrastra’ is India’s longest train, do you know which is the longest train in the world?
The title belongs to the Australian BHP Iron Ore Train, a freight train operating in Australia. Measuring a staggering 7.3 km in length, it consists of 682 wagons and is so long that 22 Eiffel Towers placed end-to-end could fit along its length. Pulling such a massive load requires far more than one or two engines; in fact, the BHP Iron Ore Train is powered by eight locomotives.
With a total of 5,648 wheels, it holds the Guinness World Record for being not only the longest but also the heaviest train in the world, weighing over 100,000 tonnes. It carries 99,734 tonnes of iron ore from Yandi Mine to Port Hedland, covering a 275 km route in about 10 hours.
The train is named after its purpose, transporting iron ore for BHP, one of the world’s largest mining companies. It first ran on June 21, 2001, and has been a marvel of heavy freight transportation ever since.
What makes it even more impressive is its ultra-modern control system. The lead locomotive’s driver can operate all eight engines simultaneously, even though they are positioned at intervals of up to a kilometre apart along the length of the train. This coordination allows the train to move smoothly despite its massive size and weight.
