Indian Railways Freight Loading Rises 9% in July to 141.3 Million Tonnes
Among railway zones, East Central Railway and Eastern Railway recorded the highest freight revenue growth at 33% each, followed by West Central Railway (23%) and South Eastern Railway (10.33%).
Indian Railways recorded a 9% year-on-year (YoY) increase in freight loading during July 2026, transporting 141.3 million tonnes of cargo compared with 129.7 million tonnes in the corresponding month last year. The growth was driven by higher demand across industrial, energy, and agricultural sectors.
According to the Ministry of Railways, freight growth was led by increased movement of key commodities, with iron ore loading rising 22.2%, followed by fertilisers (12%), foodgrains (11.5%), coal (11.5%), and other commodities (12.1%).
To support the country’s growing electricity demand, Indian Railways also increased the transportation of domestic coal to thermal power plants by 20%, helping strengthen fuel availability for power generation across multiple states.
The higher cargo volumes translated into stronger financial performance, with freight earnings rising by ₹1,137 crore, representing an 8% YoY increase over July 2025. Freight operations continue to remain the largest contributor to Indian Railways’ overall revenue.
Among railway zones, East Central Railway and Eastern Railway recorded the highest freight revenue growth at 33% each, followed by West Central Railway (23%) and South Eastern Railway (10.33%), reflecting robust cargo movement across key industrial and mining corridors.
Passenger traffic also maintained its growth momentum during the month. Indian Railways carried 63.35 crore passengers in July 2026, compared with 62.19 crore in the same period last year, with growth recorded across both suburban and long-distance services.
The Ministry of Railways attributed the improved performance to continued investments in network capacity, operational efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, and customer-focused initiatives. The growth also aligns with the government’s broader efforts to strengthen India’s logistics network through programmes such as the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) projects, which aim to improve freight efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and support the country’s industrial and economic growth.