Indian Railways recorded a 6.14 per cent year-on-year increase in freight loading in September 2026, the Railway Board said on Tuesday, moving 135.35 million tonnes of goods compared with 127.52 million tonnes in the same month last year.
Coal and foodgrain shipments drive the numbers
Coal loading, the backbone of the railway's freight business, grew 9 per cent during the month. The ministry said the transporter stepped up domestic coal supply to power houses, with the average number of coal rakes supplied daily rising to 443, up from 397 in September 2025 — an increase of 11.6 per cent.
Foodgrain loading posted the strongest performance among major commodities, rising 25 per cent year-on-year. Clinker was up 20 per cent, domestic container traffic grew 10 per cent, and finished steel and iron ore rose 5.5 per cent and 5.2 per cent respectively, according to the Railway Board.
Revenue and cumulative growth
Freight revenue for September 2026 rose by Rs 1,266 crore over the corresponding month last year, registering 9.3 per cent growth. Across the first six months of the financial year (April–September), Indian Railways loaded 833.7 million tonnes of freight, up 4.1 per cent year-on-year, while cumulative freight revenue grew 3.7 per cent.
The transporter intends to raise annual freight volumes to 3,000 million tonnes by 2031 and expects to close the current financial year at around 1,750 million tonnes.
Sources: Indian Railways freight loading rises 6.1% to 135.5 mt in September | Why did Indian Railways freight loading rise 6.14% in September?
Coal and foodgrain shipments drive the numbers
Coal loading, the backbone of the railway's freight business, grew 9 per cent during the month. The ministry said the transporter stepped up domestic coal supply to power houses, with the average number of coal rakes supplied daily rising to 443, up from 397 in September 2025 — an increase of 11.6 per cent.
Foodgrain loading posted the strongest performance among major commodities, rising 25 per cent year-on-year. Clinker was up 20 per cent, domestic container traffic grew 10 per cent, and finished steel and iron ore rose 5.5 per cent and 5.2 per cent respectively, according to the Railway Board.
Revenue and cumulative growth
Freight revenue for September 2026 rose by Rs 1,266 crore over the corresponding month last year, registering 9.3 per cent growth. Across the first six months of the financial year (April–September), Indian Railways loaded 833.7 million tonnes of freight, up 4.1 per cent year-on-year, while cumulative freight revenue grew 3.7 per cent.
The transporter intends to raise annual freight volumes to 3,000 million tonnes by 2031 and expects to close the current financial year at around 1,750 million tonnes.
Sources: Indian Railways freight loading rises 6.1% to 135.5 mt in September | Why did Indian Railways freight loading rise 6.14% in September?
