INDIAN RAILWAYS CROSSES 1 BILLION TONNE FREIGHT LOADING IN FY25-26

New Delhi, Nov 22, 2025 : Indian Railways has crossed a major milestone in freight transportation, surpassing the 1-billion-tonne mark in cumulative freight loading for FY 25-26, reaching 1,020 Million Tonnes (MT) as of 19 November, the Ministry of Railways said on Saturday.

The Ministry highlighted that this achievement reflects strong support from key sectors of the economy. Coal remained the largest contributor at 505 MT, followed by iron ore (115 MT), cement (92 MT), container traffic (59 MT), pig iron and finished steel (47 MT), fertilisers (42 MT), mineral oil (32 MT), foodgrains (30 MT), raw materials for steel plants (approximately 20 MT), and balance-other-goods (74 MT).

Daily freight loading has maintained a robust average of 4.4 MT, higher than last year’s 4.2 MT, demonstrating both improved operational efficiency and sustained demand across sectors. Between April and October, cumulative freight loading reached 935.1 MT, compared to 906.9 MT during the same period last year, marking healthy year-on-year growth.

The Railways has taken specific steps to enhance cement logistics, recognizing the sector’s critical role in infrastructure. New initiatives include the Policy for Bulk Cement Terminals and rationalised rates for bulk cement movement in containers. These reforms aim to improve bulk handling capacity, reduce transit times, and lower logistics costs, benefiting both industry players and end consumers.

“These initiatives aim to increase bulk handling capacity, reduce transit times, lower logistics costs, and enhance overall efficiency in the supply chain, benefiting both industry and consumers,” the Ministry stated.

Shifting bulk goods movement to rail provides additional benefits beyond commercial gains. It reduces carbon emissions, decongests highways, and offers industries, including MSMEs, access to greener logistics solutions.