Indian Railways Freight Loading Rises 6.14% in September
What Happened
The Ministry of Railways announced that freight loading in September 2026 reached 135.35 million tonnes, up from 127.52 million tonnes in September 2025, marking a 6.14% growth. Key commodity segments showed strong gains: food grains (+25%), clinker (+20%), domestic containers (+10%), coal (+9%), and other goods categories. Coal supply to power plants was stepped up, with 443 rakes per day compared to 397 rakes last year, an 11.6% increase. Freight revenue for September rose ₹1,266 crore year-on-year, a 9.3% growth. Cumulatively, April–September freight loading stood at 833.7 million tonnes, up 4.1% year-on-year, with revenue growth of 3.7%.
Key Takeaways
The figures highlight sustained demand for rail freight across key sectors, especially energy and agriculture. Strong growth in coal and food grain transport underscores Railways’ role in supporting power generation and food supply chains, while rising revenues strengthen its financial position.