Indian Railways hits new milestone! Freight jumps 9 percent, 63 crore passengers travelled in July  

The national transporter said higher freight loading, increased passenger traffic, improved revenue generation and enhanced movement of key commodities underscored its crucial role in supporting economic growth, strengthening logistics and providing reliable mobility across the country.

Freight loading posts robust growth

Indian Railways loaded 141.3 million tonnes of freight during July 2026, compared with 129.7 million tonnes in the corresponding month last year, registering a 9 percent year-on-year growth.

The Ministry of Railways said the robust performance reflected sustained demand across key sectors of the economy and continued efforts to improve freight logistics and operational efficiency.

Key commodities record strong growth

Several major commodity groups registered healthy year-on-year growth during the month.

Iron ore loading rose 22.2 percent, while coal and foodgrain loading each increased 11.5 percent. Fertilizer loading grew 12 percent, and the "Balance Other Goods" category recorded a 12.1 percent rise, reflecting strong demand from the infrastructure, manufacturing and agriculture sectors.

To meet rising demand from thermal power plants, Indian Railways increased the supply of domestic coal to power stations by 20 percent compared with July last year, helping strengthen the country's energy security.

Freight revenue rises

Higher freight movement translated into an additional ₹1,137 crore in freight revenue over July 2025, marking an 8 percent increase.

Among the zonal railways, East Central Railway and Eastern Railway each recorded 33 percent growth in freight revenue, followed by West Central Railway at 23 percent and South Eastern Railway at 10.33 percent.

Passenger traffic continues to grow

Indian Railways carried 63.35 crore passengers during July 2026, up from 62.19 crore in the corresponding month last year.

Passenger traffic increased across both suburban and non-suburban segments, reflecting the growing preference for rail travel and continued improvements in connectivity and service delivery.

Indian Railways said it remains committed to strengthening freight logistics, enhancing passenger services and expanding modern rail infrastructure. Through sustained improvements in operational efficiency, capacity augmentation and customer-centric initiatives, the transporter aims to further support India's economic growth, energy security and seamless mobility for millions of passengers.