In a significant milestone for the nation's transportation infrastructure, Indian Railways has crossed the remarkable benchmark of 1 billion tonnes in freight loading during the current financial year 2025-26. The national transporter continues to demonstrate robust growth in cargo movement, reinforcing its critical role in India's economic development.
Record-Breaking Freight Performance
According to official data released by the Ministry of Railways, the total freight loading reached 1,020 million tonnes as of November 19, 2025. This achievement comes against the backdrop of the previous fiscal year's all-time high performance of over 1,600 million tonnes during FY 2024-25.
The current financial year has witnessed a consistent upward trajectory in freight movement, with the Railways registering a 3.11% increase in loading between April and October compared to the same period last year. Detailed statistics reveal that the national carrier loaded 935.1 million tonnes of freight over these nine months, showing significant improvement from 906.9 million tonnes during the corresponding period in the previous year.
Commodity-Wise Breakdown and Daily Performance
An analysis of the freight composition reveals that coal continues to dominate the Railways' cargo portfolio, contributing 505 million tonnes and accounting for over half of the total freight loading. This substantial volume underscores the continued reliance on coal for energy production and industrial applications across the country.
Other major commodities contributing to the freight basket include iron ore at 115 million tonnes, cement at 92 million tonnes, container traffic at 59 million tonnes, steel at 47 million tonnes, fertilizers at 42 million tonnes, and foodgrains at 30 million tonnes. This diverse cargo mix highlights the Railways' crucial role in supporting multiple sectors of the Indian economy.
The daily loading performance has also shown remarkable improvement, averaging 4.4 million tonnes compared to 4.2 million tonnes last year. This enhanced daily capacity demonstrates better utilization of rolling stock and improved turnaround times, reflecting operational efficiency improvements within the system.
Policy Reforms and Environmental Benefits
The Railways has implemented several strategic policy reforms to strengthen its freight operations, including the recent rollout of the Policy for Bulk Cement. This initiative aims to diversify the freight segment, particularly in bulk commodities, and represents a comprehensive approach to modernizing cement transportation infrastructure.
A senior official from the Ministry of Railways emphasized the broader implications of shifting bulk goods movement to rail, stating that the benefits extend beyond commercial metrics. "It reduces carbon footprints, decongests the highways, and provides industries access to greener logistics solutions," the official explained. "This strategic shift will also align freight operations with the holistic push towards Net Zero Carbon Emission targets, contributing to India's climate commitments."
The new policy framework for bulk cement terminals and rationalized rates for bulk cement movement in containers is expected to increase handling capacity, reduce transit time, and lower overall logistics costs. These improvements will directly benefit industry stakeholders and end consumers alike while promoting sustainable transportation practices.
