Indian Railways loaded 145 million tonnes of freight in May 2026, a 1.3% rise over the same month last year, even as geopolitical tensions in West Asia continued to weigh on global supply chains.
The growth was broad-based. Iron ore loading climbed 4.8%, pig iron and finished steel rose 3.5%, and fertilisers grew 6.2%. The standout performer was the ‘Balance Other Goods’ category, which surged 16%. Coal, the single largest freight segment, held steady with nearly 1% growth, with the railways prioritising movement to thermal power plants to shore up energy supplies.
On the passenger side, the network carried over 61 crore passengers — up from 59 crore a year ago. Non-suburban travel drove the gains, rising 7.4% from 28 crore to 30 crore passengers, reflecting strong demand for both short- and long-distance rail journeys.
To handle the seasonal rush, the railways deployed a fleet of Summer Special Trains across major routes. Its premium services continued to expand: 164 Vande Bharat trains are now operational, including a new Sleeper Vande Bharat on the Howrah–Kamakhya route, while the Amrit Bharat network grew to 68 services after three new additions in May.
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