Indian Railways Achieves Record Freight Transport of 1,670 Million Tonnes in FY26

Q: How did coal transport perform in FY26?

Coal freight declined slightly to **819 million tonnes** from **823 million tonnes**, primarily due to reduced power demand.

Original: Infrastructure boom drives rail freight to record 1,670 mt in FY26 as steel, cement loading rises

Mint•Apr 1, 20263 min

In a Nutshell

In the financial year 2025-26, Indian Railways transported a record 1,670 million tonnes of freight, marking a 3.25% increase from the previous year. Key sectors driving this growth include fertilizers and steel, despite a slight decline in coal transport due to reduced power demand.

Key Points

01Indian Railways set a record by transporting 1,670 million tonnes of freight in FY26.
02Freight growth was driven by sectors like fertilizers (13.49%) and pig iron and steel (13.11%).
03Coal freight saw a slight decline, dropping to 819 million tonnes from 823 million tonnes.
04The South Western Railway zone led regional growth with an increase of 14.89%.
05The railways continue to play a crucial role in India's logistics and economic expansion.

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Full Summary

Indian Railways has reported a landmark achievement in freight transport for the financial year 2025-26, moving 1,670 million tonnes (mt) of cargo, a modest increase of 3.25% compared to 1,617 mt in FY25. This growth is attributed to rising demand in key sectors such as fertilizers and steel, with fertilizers seeing a 13.49% increase and pig iron and steel increasing by 13.11%. However, coal freight experienced a slight decline, falling to 819 mt from 823 mt due to subdued power demand stemming from a prolonged monsoon. Core infrastructure commodities also contributed positively, with iron ore transport rising 6.74% to 190.12 mt and cement loading increasing 4.74% to 157.17 mt. The South Western Railway zone exhibited the highest growth at 14.89%, indicating a balanced regional development in freight capacity. This consistent performance underscores the railways' vital role in supporting India's economic growth, providing a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable transport solution.

Key Figures

1,670 mt

Total freight transported in FY26

3.25%

Growth rate compared to FY25

819 mt

Coal freight in FY26

14.89%

Growth in South Western Railway zone

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Why It Matters

The increase in rail freight transport indicates a strengthening logistics network, which can lead to lower transportation costs for businesses and consumers.

Who is affected

Businesses relying on rail for logistics, consumers benefiting from lower costs.

What to know

Businesses should consider increasing their reliance on rail transport to capitalize on cost efficiencies.

FAQ

The increase was driven by high demand in sectors like fertilizers and steel, alongside ongoing infrastructure development.

Coal freight declined slightly to 819 million tonnes from 823 million tonnes, primarily due to reduced power demand.

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