Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: Indian Railways continued its strong operational performance during October 2026, registering robust growth in freight transportation. Higher freight loading and increased freight earnings reflect Indian Railways’ efforts towards supporting economic growth and strengthening the country’s logistics sector.
Freight Loading Registers Robust Growth
Indian Railways achieved its highest-ever freight loading for October, transporting 145.07 million tonnes of freight during the month, compared to 133.93 million tonnes in October 2025, registering a growth of 8.32 per cent.
Several major commodities registered encouraging growth during the month. Food Grains loading increased by 26.3 per cent, Domestic Coal by 16.0 per cent, Balance Other Goods by 11.0 per cent, Clinker by 10.4 per cent, Domestic Containers by 6.3 per cent, Iron Ore by 5.0 per cent, Mineral Oil by 1.9 per cent and Finished Steel by 0.5 per cent.
To meet the increased requirement of power houses, Indian Railways stepped up domestic coal transportation, supplying an average of 469.8 rakes per day during October 2026, compared to 393.2 rakes per day in the corresponding month last year, registering a growth of 19.5 per cent.
The strong performance in October 2026 builds upon the growth recorded during the first seven months of FY 2026-27 (April–October). During this period, Indian Railways loaded 978.78 million tonnes of freight, compared to 935.10 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year, registering a growth of 4.67 per cent.
Passenger Traffic Continues to Grow
Passenger mobility also witnessed steady growth during October 2026. Indian Railways carried 64.72 crore passengers, compared to 63.52 crore passengers during the corresponding month last year.
During April–October 2026, Indian Railways carried 443.8 crore passengers, compared to 431.4 crore during the corresponding period last year. The Non-Suburban segment recorded growth of 4.2 per cent, while the Suburban segment registered an increase of 1.7 per cent.
The growth in freight loading reflects Indian Railways’ commitment to strengthening logistics and supporting India’s economic growth. Through capacity augmentation and improved operational efficiency, Indian Railways continues to enhance its transportation network.
