Indian Railways has surpassed the 1 billion tonne freight loading milestone in the current financial year (FY26), achieving the landmark ahead of schedule and reflecting strong demand across key bulk commodities. The accomplishment underscores the railway network’s expanding role in supporting industrial activity and improving logistics efficiency across the country.
According to officials, the growth has been led primarily by coal, iron ore, cement, foodgrains, and containers, with coal continuing to contribute the largest share as power plants and industries maintain high demand. Iron ore movement also witnessed a steady rise due to increased production and export requirements, while cement loading benefited from ongoing infrastructure and construction projects nationwide.
The Railways’ focus on expanding capacity, improving operational efficiency, and adopting technology-driven systems has contributed to the higher loading figures. Enhanced yard management, deployment of longer freight trains, and better utilisation of dedicated freight corridors have further helped accelerate freight movement.
Officials added that sustained efforts to attract new freight customers, upgrade terminals, and provide customised logistics solutions have supported the upward trend. With freight revenue forming a major portion of Indian Railways’ earnings, crossing the 1 billion tonne mark is seen as an encouraging indicator as the organisation works toward its year-end targets.
The milestone highlights the resilience of India’s freight ecosystem and the growing shift toward rail-based transport as a safer, more cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly logistics option.