Indian Railways freight loading increased 6.14 per cent year-on-year in September 2026, reaching 135.35 million tonnes as several major commodity segments recorded higher volumes.
According to the Ministry of Railways, freight loading stood at 127.52 million tonnes in September 2025. The latest figures also show continued growth during the first six months of the current financial year.
Indian Railways Freight Loading Gains Across Key Commodities
Food grains recorded the strongest growth among the listed commodity categories, rising 25 per cent in September 2026 compared with the same month last year. Clinker loading increased 20 per cent, while domestic container traffic grew 10 per cent.
Coal loading rose 9 per cent during the month. Meanwhile, loading of other goods increased 8.2 per cent, mineral oil grew 6 per cent, finished steel rose 5.5 per cent and iron ore registered 5.2 per cent growth.
The increase across these segments points to stronger freight movement across multiple commodity categories. However, the ministry’s release did not provide individual tonnage figures for each category.
Coal Rake Supply to Power Houses Increases 11.6%
Indian Railways also increased domestic coal supplies to power houses during September. The average number of coal rakes supplied daily reached 443, compared with 397 rakes per day in September 2025.
This represents an increase of 11.6 per cent year-on-year. The higher daily supply indicates an expansion in rail-based coal movement to power generation facilities during the month.
Freight revenue also registered growth. Indian Railways earned an additional ₹1,266 crore in freight revenue in September 2026 compared with September 2025, marking an increase of 9.3 per cent.
Freight Loading Reaches 833.7 Million Tonnes in April-September
On a cumulative basis, Indian Railways loaded 833.7 million tonnes of freight between April and September 2026. This marked a 4.1 per cent increase over the corresponding period in the previous year.
Freight revenue during the six-month period also grew by 3.7 per cent, according to the Ministry of Railways.
The September performance therefore outpaced the cumulative growth rate for the first half of the financial year. Monthly freight loading rose 6.14 per cent, while the April-September figure increased 4.1 per cent.
Indian Railways continues to play a significant role in transporting bulk commodities, including coal, food grains, iron ore and steel, alongside containerised domestic cargo. The latest figures reflect growth in both monthly and cumulative freight volumes.
