A bridge on the Bairabi-Sairang railway line, which extends the national rail network into Mizoram’s hilly terrain. (Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Railways/PIB)
Aizawl, September 13 (MExN): The 51.38-km Bairabi-Sairang railway line in Mizoram has completed one year of operation, recording more than 15 lakh passenger journeys and over 2,500 wagons of freight delivered to Sairang.
The railway line and Sairang Railway Station were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 13, 2025. The line connects Bairabi with Sairang near Aizawl through four new stations—Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang and Sairang.
During the first year, passenger services on the route completed more than 1,100 trips, with occupancy exceeding 100% on every trip. Ticket sales crossed Rs 54 crore.
Three long-distance services currently connect Sairang with Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi, while the Sairang-Silchar passenger service, introduced in January 2026, provides an additional link with Assam’s Barak Valley.
The tri-weekly Sairang-Kolkata service recorded average occupancy of over 140%, while the daily Sairang-Guwahati service averaged above 110%. The Sairang-Anand Vihar Rajdhani Express recorded average occupancy of more than 145%, informed a press release from the Union Ministry of Railways via PIB.
Sairang Railway Station handled more than 5.54 lakh passenger movements during the year, averaging around 3,300 passengers a day, it added.
Freight movement
Freight operations began on September 14, 2025, with the first cargo train carrying more than 26,000 bags of cement from the STAR Cement siding at Tetelia near Guwahati.
More than 2,500 wagons of freight have since been delivered at Sairang, around 70% comprising construction materials such as cement, stone and sand. Other consignments included foodgrains, fertilisers and automobiles.
In December 2025, the first automobile consignment—119 Maruti cars from Changsari near Guwahati—arrived at Sairang by rail. In all, 156 wagons carrying automobiles were delivered during the year.
The first parcel consignment from Sairang was booked on September 19, 2025, carrying anthurium flowers to Delhi in the parcel van of the Sairang-Anand Vihar Rajdhani Express.
Tourism and connectivity
The direct rail services have expanded travel options between Mizoram and major centres including Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Silchar, providing connectivity for passengers travelling for education, healthcare, business and other purposes.
Figures cited in the release noted that tourism in Mizoram has increased by more than 86% since the introduction of rail connectivity.
The 51.38-km line comprises 153 bridges, including 55 major and 88 minor bridges and 10 road overbridges/road underbridges. Six bridges exceed 70 metres in height, with the tallest measuring 114 metres. The alignment also includes 45 tunnels stretching nearly 16 km.
The line has extended the national railway network to Sairang, bringing rail connectivity closer to Aizawl and providing Mizoram with an additional passenger and freight link to the rest of the country, it added.
