Indian Railways freight loading gains momentum in September

Summary

Indian Railways transported 135.35 million tonnes of freight in September 2026, recording 6.14% growth over the same month last year. Foodgrains, clinker and domestic containers registered strong gains, while increased coal deliveries supported power generation. Freight revenue rose 9.3%, extending the railway’s growth through the first half of the financial year.

September volumes rise across key commodities

Indian Railways freight loading increased from 127.52 million tonnes in September 2025 to 135.35 million tonnes in September 2026. The figures, announced on 13 October, represent an additional 7.83 million tonnes of cargo carried during the month.

Foodgrain loading rose 25%, followed by clinker at 20% and domestic containers at 10%. Coal increased 9%, while the “Balance Other Goods” category expanded 8.2%.

Mineral oil loading grew 6%, finished steel 5.5% and iron ore 5.2%, showing gains across agricultural, energy and industrial cargo.

Coal supply and revenue strengthen

Domestic coal deliveries to power stations also increased. Average daily supplies reached 443 rakes, compared with 397 a year earlier, representing growth of 11.6%.

Freight revenue rose by ₹1,266 crore, or 9.3%, over September 2025. For April–September 2026, cumulative loading reached 833.7 million tonnes, up 4.1%, while freight revenue increased 3.7%.

September’s volume growth therefore exceeded the first-half rate, providing a stronger close to the six-month period. The revenue figures also show a faster monthly increase than the cumulative trend.

Growth follows a stronger August

The September performance followed year-on-year freight growth in August, when Indian Railways loaded 137.9 million tonnes against 130.9 million tonnes in August 2025. That represented an increase of 5.4%, accompanied by freight revenue growth of 6.27%.

Domestic container loading had risen 9.2% in August, while clinker increased 10.4% and coal 6%. September brought higher annual growth rates in each of those categories.

However, September’s total tonnage was below August’s 137.9 million tonnes. The latest result therefore represents stronger year-on-year growth rather than an increase in absolute monthly loading.

This distinction matters when assessing freight demand: annual comparisons measure performance against the corresponding seasonal period, while consecutive monthly totals reflect changes within the current year.

Cargo terminals widen access to rail

The freight results come alongside an expansion of rail-linked cargo infrastructure. Five Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals were commissioned in August, taking the total to 149 as of 31 August 2026.

Those facilities were located at Shivlakha in Gujarat, Nalli in Tamil Nadu, Shaktinagar in Uttar Pradesh, Deoragram in Madhya Pradesh and Brajrajnagar in Odisha.

Their purpose is to bring freight-handling facilities closer to production and consumption centres, improving access to rail transport and reducing avoidable cargo movement. The terminal additions form part of the wider infrastructure programme; the September figures do not quantify their individual contribution to loading growth.

Earlier figures released in July placed the estimated handling capacity of 142 commissioned terminals at 224 million tonnes annually. The programme had mobilised approximately ₹10,000 crore in private investment, and those terminals handled 146 million tonnes during 2025–26.

The terminal policy supports facilities for commodities including cement, steel, foodgrains, fertilisers, coal, minerals, containers and automobiles. It also enables associated warehousing, silos and cold storage, connecting transport capacity with cargo consolidation and storage requirements.

Longer-term strategy links capacity with customers

Indian Railways’ freight programme extends beyond terminal construction. It includes upgrading railway-owned goods sheds, encouraging private investment in specialised wagons and developing services that address first- and last-mile requirements.

An August update recorded approximately 275 operational rakes of special-purpose wagons and 397 general-purpose rakes under private investment schemes. A separate automobile transportation scheme had around 54 industry-owned rakes in operation.

The railway has also introduced the Joint Parcel Product–Rapid Cargo Service, offering tailored door-to-door parcel logistics. CONCOR participates in services on the Delhi–Kolkata and Mumbai–Kolkata routes, extending rail’s reach into supply chains requiring collection and delivery.

These initiatives sit within a sustained increase in annual freight loading, from 1,098 million tonnes in 2014–15 to 1,670 million tonnes in 2025–26. For industrial customers and logistics providers, the continuing priority is translating additional network and terminal capacity into accessible, dependable cargo services across regions.

FAQs

How much freight did Indian Railways load in September 2026?

It loaded 135.35 million tonnes, up 6.14% from September 2025.

Which commodity categories recorded the strongest growth?

Foodgrains increased 25%, clinker 20% and domestic containers 10%.

How did freight revenue perform?

September freight revenue increased 9.3%, or ₹1,266 crore, year-on-year.

What was the first-half loading figure?

Indian Railways loaded 833.7 million tonnes during April–September 2026, an increase of 4.1%.

Was September loading higher than August?

No. August loading was 137.9 million tonnes, although September recorded a stronger year-on-year growth rate.