What is VPH?

• “VPH” stands for High-Capacity Parcel Van under Indian Railways

wagon/coach classification. 

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• It is a variant of parcel van dedicated to carrying parcels, goods, and

luggage, but with higher capacity and speed potential compared to

standard parcel vans (code “VP”).

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• These vans can be attached to passenger/express trains (or parcel

specials)

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Key Features & Technical Specifications

• The newer high-capacity vans are built on the LHB (Linke-Hofmann-

Busch) platform and are certified for higher speeds (e.g., up to 130 km/h)

for faster delivery of parcels. 

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• They have foldable 2-tier luggage racks and multiple sliding doors for ease of loading/unloading. The interior is designed to accommodate large volume of parcels, small goods, and even vehicles/motorcycles in some cases. 

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• The design uses stainless steel shell, air suspension (to reduce wear and smooth ride for goods), anti-climbing coupler and disc brakes in high-speed variants.

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• From classification documentation: “VP : Parcel van. VPH : High capacity parcel van.”

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Why VPH Vans Matter for Logistics & Businesses​

• For your operations at Raftar Express, here are how VPH vans provide value:

Large capacity & full-van booking: If you have a large shipment (e.g., bulk parcels, e-commerce consignments, or heavy goods) you could consider booking a VPH van rather than many smaller parcels. The economy of scale helps.

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• Speed & reliability: Because these vans are certified for high speeds and are attached to faster trains, they reduce transit time compared to standard freight wagons. That can aid time-sensitive shipments (just like you help across train, road, air & water).

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• Nationwide reach: Since Indian Railways has vast network, a VPH van offers rail-based connectivity across long distances in India — a complement to your aggregate logistics capability.

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• Cost-effectiveness: Rail transport has lower per-tonne cost for long-haul compared to surface road over the same distance. Using parcel vans like VPH helps bring cost down for shipments in bulk.

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• Integration potential: For Raftar Express, you could integrate rail-leg via VPH van bookings and then connect onward door-delivery via road/air/water. That multimodal chain becomes more efficient.

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What is SLR?

• The SLR coach is a special coach attached to most passenger

        and express trains in Indian Railways.

• It stands for Seating-cum-Luggage Rake, i.e., one portion is used

        for seating (usually guard’s section) and the other for

        luggage/parcel traffic.

• In the context of parcel services, the SLR’s luggage/parcel section is

        used to transport parcels, smaller consignments and baggage-type

        traffic along the route of the passenger train.

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Key Features & Technical Aspects

• Because the SLR travels as part of a passenger train, it benefits from

        the train’s scheduled speed and route stops, which can make shipments

        quicker for lighter, time-sensitive consignments.

• The parcel / luggage compartment of the SLR is suited for smaller

       volume loads (compared to dedicated full-van parcel units) and is often used for piecemeal parcel traffic.

      The SLR is subject to the same parcel booking policy/rate-scale as other parcel vans and

       brake vans. For example, usage of SLR for parcel traffic is referenced in the rate‐tables under

      “Brakevan (SLR)” category. 

• For leasing purposes or full usage, SLR compartments may be leased out under parcel leasing policies just like dedicated parcel vans.

Why SLR Matters for Raftar Express

• Fast transit: Since SLRs are on passenger trains, your goods can piggy-back on scheduled routes with quicker stops and often better priority than slow freight.

• Nationwide reach: Almost every long-haul express or mail train carries SLRs; this gives you widespread connectivity across stations and regions, which fits Raftar Express’s multi-modal logistics (train + road + air + water).

• Ideal for smaller parcels: If your shipment is not large enough to book an entire parcel van, the SLR parcel space is a cost-effective and efficient option.

• Seamless integration: You can integrate SLR bookings into your Raftar Express service chain  rail leg via SLR for medium-volume/urgent parcels, then road/air/water for first-mile/last-mile.

• Improved customer experience: Offering fast, rail-based parcel transit via SLR adds another service tier for your clients,“rail express” option complementing road/air.

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Raftar is widely acknowledged as a premier leader in rail operations by esteemed industry leaders and our valued clients. This recognition stems from our commitment to excellence, powered by a highly skilled team of professionals, including ground staff and administrative experts.

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