India’s cold chain logistics just got a boost with the launch of the first-ever dedicated reefer rail freight service connecting Thimmapur ICD in Hyderabad to Nhava Sheva Port (JNPA), jointly operated by Ocean Network Express (ONE) and DP World. The inaugural service rolled out on October 6, 2025, marking a significant step in providing pharmaceutical exporters with a reliable and sustainable transport alternative.
The new rail service runs weekly, moving up to 43 forty-foot refrigerated containers per trip, translating to over 172 containers each month. For an industry heavily reliant on road transport, this shift to rail is a practical solution that promises better schedule control and reduced carbon emissions. Hyderabad, known as India’s pharmaceutical capital, stands to benefit the most as exporters seek dependable links between production hubs and maritime gateways.
Each reefer train operates with dedicated technicians and a digital monitoring system to ensure real-time temperature control throughout the journey. DP World’s proprietary power packs maintain the exact climate conditions required for sensitive pharmaceutical cargo, addressing long-standing concerns about product integrity during transit. The service aligns with vessel departure schedules at Nhava Sheva, ensuring entire shipments arrive together—something far more difficult to coordinate via road transport.
Masahiro Sakikubo, Managing Director of ONE India, described the collaboration as a step toward offering “a sustainable, direct, and dependable connection with fixed cut-off times and schedules between inland production hubs and our ocean network.” Meanwhile, Adhendru Jain, Vice President of DP World Subcontinent, emphasized the reliability of this new option, stating that it gives exporters “an efficient alternative to road transport.”
The initiative reflects a growing trend in India’s logistics sector—combining technology, sustainability, and intermodal connectivity. By providing an integrated cold chain rail service, ONE and DP World are not only improving efficiency for pharmaceutical exports but also setting a precedent for future temperature-controlled rail logistics in the region.
