Indian Railways sustained its growth trajectory in June 2026, reporting a 4% increase in freight loading to 142.21 million tonnes and carrying 63.81 crore passengers. The national transporter earned an additional Rs 430 crore in freight revenue, marking a 3% rise compared to June 2025.
Freight Performance Highlights
According to Railway officials, freight loading increased from 136.71 million tonnes in June 2025 to 142.21 million tonnes in June 2026. Freight earnings registered a 3% increase, driven by robust demand from core sectors. Fertiliser loading recorded the highest growth at 19.1%, followed by Balance & Other Goods at 17.3%, Iron Ore at 9.4%, Clinker at 7.2%, Domestic Coal at 4.9%, and Total Coal at 3.6%.
First Quarter Performance
The strong June performance built on sustained growth during the first quarter of FY 2026-27 (April-June). During the quarter, Indian Railways loaded 419.08 million tonnes of freight, compared to 413.05 million tonnes in the corresponding period of FY 2025-26. Key commodity segments showed encouraging growth: Iron Ore loading increased by 7.44%, Clinker by 6.54%, and Balance & Other Goods by 12.16% over the previous year.
Coal Supply to Power Plants
To meet the increased demand from thermal power stations during the extended summer, Indian Railways stepped up domestic coal transportation, supplying 7% more coal to power plants in June 2026 compared to the same month last year. This ensured uninterrupted power generation across the country.
Passenger Traffic Growth
Passenger traffic continued its upward trajectory. The Railways carried 63.81 crore passengers in June 2026, up from 62.37 crore in June 2025. The Non-Suburban segment, covering short and long-distance travel, recorded a 3.9% increase, with passenger numbers rising from 28.90 crore to 30.04 crore. The Suburban segment also grew by 0.9%, from 33.46 crore to 33.77 crore passengers.
Expansion of Modern Services
Indian Railways expanded its modern passenger services during June. The number of Vande Bharat train services reached 164, including the recently launched Vande Bharat Sleeper service connecting Howrah and Kamakhya. The Amrit Bharat network expanded to 72 services, with four new trains introduced in June, strengthening affordable and modern long-distance connectivity.
