Indian Railways Crosses One Billion Tonnes Freight Mark

Indian Railways was reported to have achieved a major milestone in freight operations for the financial year 2025–26, crossing the one-billion-tonne mark. Daily freight loading reached 4.4 million tonnes, exceeding last year’s level, while the shift of bulk cargo to rail was noted to have reduced emissions, eased highway congestion, and provided a greener, cost-efficient logistics option benefiting both industry stakeholders and end users.

The freight performance of Indian Railways continued to strengthen the country’s economic backbone, as cumulative loading surpassed one billion tonnes—reaching 1,020 million tonnes (MT) by 19 November. This achievement reflected broad support from major sectors: coal remained the largest contributor at 505 MT, followed by iron ore (115 MT), cement (92 MT), container traffic (59 MT), raw and finished steel (47 MT), fertilizers (42 MT), petroleum products (32 MT), food grains (30 MT), raw materials for steel plants (around 20 MT), and other commodities (74 MT). Daily loading was noted to remain strong at approximately 4.4 million tonnes, higher than last year’s 4.2 million tonnes, indicating improved operational efficiency and sustained demand.

Freight loading between April and October further reinforced this positive trend, reaching 935.1 MT in 2025 compared to 906.9 MT during the same period last year, marking a healthy year-on-year increase. This consistent momentum, along with improved daily loading rates, demonstrated the Railways’ capacity to support India’s industrial expansion and infrastructure growth.

Recognizing the critical role of cement in national infrastructure development, the Railways implemented significant measures to optimize logistics for this sector. Recently introduced reforms—including policy provisions for bulk cement terminals and rationalized rates for moving bulk cement in containers—reflected a strategic initiative to modernize cement transportation. These steps aim to enhance bulk-handling capacity, reduce transit time, and lower logistics costs, ensuring direct benefits for industry players and end consumers while improving supply-chain efficiency. Such targeted interventions are expected to accelerate sectoral transformation.

Shifting bulk cargo movement to rail continues to yield benefits well beyond commercial metrics. It reduces carbon emissions, lowers congestion on highways, and provides industries—including MSMEs—with access to greener logistics solutions. These developments reaffirm India’s commitment to sustainable growth, aligning freight movement with national net-zero goals and positioning the Railways as a catalyst for both economic and environmental progress.