Indian Railways Freight Loading Hits Record 1,670 MT in FY26, Strengthening India’s Logistics Backbone

Indian Railways has posted a landmark performance in freight transportation during the financial year 2025–26, underlining its growing importance in India’s logistics and infrastructure network. The national transporter moved a record 1,670 million tonnes (MT) of freight during the year, registering a 3.25 percent growth over the previous fiscal.

This milestone reflects the continued strengthening of rail-based cargo movement across the country, supported by improved operational efficiency, higher wagon availability, and increased dependence from core industries. The total number of wagons handled also rose by 4.56 percent, climbing from 2,79,12,271 in FY25 to 2,91,86,475 in FY26.

The growth in freight loading was largely led by key sectors critical to India’s economic activity. Fertiliser movement recorded a sharp increase of 13.49 percent, highlighting robust agricultural demand and supply chain expansion across states. The pig iron and finished steel segment also witnessed a 13.11 percent rise, indicating strong industrial and manufacturing activity.

Infrastructure-linked commodities continued to remain major contributors to the freight surge. Iron ore loading increased by 6.74 percent to 190.12 MT, while cement transportation rose by 4.74 percent to 157.17 MT. These numbers reflect sustained momentum in construction, real estate and infrastructure development projects across India.

Zone-wise, the growth remained broad-based, with South Western Railway leading the performance with a 14.89 percent increase, followed by North Central Railway, East Coast Railway and West Central Railway, all posting double-digit growth.

The strong freight performance once again reinforces Indian Railways’ position as the backbone of India’s logistics ecosystem. By offering cost-efficient, reliable and sustainable transport solutions, the railway network continues to support economic growth, reduce road congestion and lower overall logistics costs for industries nationwide.