North Central Railways Announces Stellar Performance for Financial Year 2025-26
In a comprehensive review held in Prayagraj, Naresh Pal Singh, the General Manager of North Central Railways (NCR), unveiled the zone's remarkable achievements for the financial year 2025-26. The presentation highlighted substantial gains across multiple operational domains, including freight loading, passenger services, safety enhancements, and infrastructure expansion, marking a period of significant progress and efficiency improvements.
Freight and Revenue Milestones
Freight operations saw unprecedented success, with NCR achieving its highest-ever originating loading of 20.97 million tonnes. This represents a robust 12.6% increase compared to the previous year, generating freight revenue of Rs 2,276 crore. The strong performance in both coaching and freight sectors propelled the total originating revenue to Rs 6,001 crore, reflecting a 4% year-over-year growth. Additionally, scrap sales contributed Rs 316 crore in revenue, surpassing the target by an impressive 15%.
Enhancements in Passenger Services
Passenger services experienced notable improvements, with the punctuality of mail and express trains rising to 79%, a 9% increase from the prior year. To bolster convenience and connectivity, NCR introduced 42 new train services, including two originating trains. Further initiatives included:
- Providing 46 new stoppages to facilitate easier access.
- Extending the routes of 12 trains and increasing the frequency of two others.
- Augmenting 31 additional coaches across 14 pairs of passenger trains.
In response to passenger demand, the zone operated 470 trains as 'train on demand' services, completing 3,140 trips. During the Magh Mela 2026, a massive 804 special trains were deployed to manage the surge in travel.
Rolling Stock and Safety Upgrades
On the rolling stock front, NCR upgraded its fleet by converting four pairs of trains from ICF to LHB coaches and six pairs from ICF to Memu rakes, enhancing comfort and reliability. Safety and infrastructure received focused attention, with the implementation of the 'Kavach' system over 270 kilometers and completion of loco trials across 520 route kilometers. Key infrastructure projects included:
- Completion of 52.35 kilometers of doubling, 55.266 kilometers of third line, and 27 kilometers of gauge conversion.
- Commissioning of 223 kilometers of automatic signaling and electronic interlocking at 16 stations.
- Interlocking 22 level crossing gates and eliminating 23 level crossings to improve road safety.
Workshop Achievements and Green Initiatives
In workshop performance, the wagon workshop in Jhansi set a record with an out-turn of 8,350 wagons, the best in Indian Railways. Meanwhile, the rail coach renovation workshop in Jhansi completed maintenance of Vande Bharat train sets for the first time, showcasing technical prowess. Green initiatives were also emphasized, with Miyawaki plantation carried out over 500 square meters and the installation of 9.05 MW rooftop solar plants, increasing total solar capacity to 21.75 MW.
Transparency in Recruitment
To ensure fairness and efficiency, all recruitment processes within NCR are now conducted through a centralized computer-based test (CBT) system. This move aims to enhance transparency and timeliness in hiring, aligning with modern administrative practices.
The detailed report underscores NCR's commitment to operational excellence and customer-centric services, positioning it as a key contributor to India's railway network's growth and modernization efforts.
