Hubballi: South Western Railway (SWR) has achieved a historic milestone in freight operations by recording its highest-ever originating freight loading for the month of May. In May 2026, the railway loaded 4.4 million tonnes (MT) of freight, surpassing the previous record of 4.3 MT set in May 2008. This represents a growth of 4.3% compared to the 4.2 MT loaded in May 2025.
Freight Performance
The average daily loading in May 2026 stood at 2,275 wagons per day, an increase of 3.7% from 2,193 wagons per day in the corresponding period last year. Commodity-wise, SWR handled 1.8 million tonnes of iron ore, 0.9 million tonnes of steel, and 0.1 million tonnes of RMSP. Coal loading reached 0.9 million tonnes, registering a significant growth of 23.3% over the 0.8 million tonnes recorded in May 2025.
Financial Performance
SWR recorded a stable financial performance in May 2026, with gross earnings amounting to Rs 770.7 crore. Freight earnings contributed Rs 425.7 crore, while other coaching earnings were Rs 26.1 crore. Parcel revenue stood at Rs 13.8 crore, and sundry earnings at Rs 16.6 crore. Ticket checking earnings were Rs 5.5 crore, and commercial sundry revenue was Rs 5.7 crore.
Passenger Revenue Growth
Passenger earnings continued to be a major contributor, reaching Rs 302.3 crore, reflecting a strong 21.4% growth over the previous year. The number of passengers carried rose to 16.4 million, a 6.7% increase compared to last year, surpassing the target by 8.1%. This indicates sustained demand for passenger services.
Cumulative Performance for FY 2026-27
For the financial year up to May 2026, cumulative earnings showed encouraging progress. Passenger revenue increased to Rs 609.7 crore, marking a growth of 16.2% over the corresponding period last year. Freight revenue reached Rs 782.9 crore, while other coaching revenue stood at Rs 54.8 crore and sundry revenue at Rs 34.1 crore. The total gross revenue for the period aggregated to Rs 1,481.5 crore, reflecting an overall improvement in earnings performance.
This strong performance underscores SWR's operational efficiency and growing demand for both freight and passenger services.
