Railways Freight crosses 1,070 MT mark; 8-month volume beats 2013-14 record
Cumulative freight loading for the fiscal year has risen by 3.3% compared to the corresponding period last year.
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Indian Railways has recorded 1,070.8 million tonnes (MT) of freight in the first eight months of the current financial year. In a testament to its expanded capacity, the national transporter has now moved more goods between April and November 2025 than it did during the entire 2013–14 financial year, when annual loading stood at 1,055 MT.
Cumulative freight loading for the fiscal year has risen by 3.3% compared to the corresponding period last year.
With the railways recording a freight loading of 135.7 million tonnes, a 4.2% increase over the 130.2 million tonnes loaded in November of the previous year.
Sector-wise data indicates broad-based growth across key commodities. Pig iron and finished steel led the surge with a robust 16% increase. Other major movers included fertilisers up 10.6%, iron ore up 9.7%, and container traffic, which grew by 6.8%.
The railway ministry said in a statement, "This sustained growth is strengthening industrial supply chains, supporting both domestic and international trade, and providing a more sustainable, cost-efficient logistics ecosystem".
A key factor driving this shift to rail is the cost advantage. According to the release, rail transport currently costs almost 50% less than road transport, generating substantial savings for businesses and fostering wider economic benefits.
