Indian Railways carried 1,503.80 million tonnes of freight between 1 April 2025 and 28 February 2026, up 3.28 per cent from 1,456.07 million tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous financial year, according to a statement by the Ministry of Railways on Friday, 6 March.
Freight revenue during the first 11 months of FY 2025-26 reached ₹1,60,987 crore, compared with ₹1,58,539.86 crore in the same period last year, registering a 1.54 per cent increase.
Total freight movement measured in net tonne kilometres stood at 840,000 million, up from 826,586 million NTKM a year earlier, marking a 1.62 per cent increase.
The latest monthly data also showed continued momentum in February 2026, when Indian Railways carried 137.72 million tonnes of freight and earned ₹14,571.99 crore in freight revenue.
Freight loading during the month rose 3.96 per cent from 132.48 million tonnes in February 2025.
Freight revenue also increased 2.97 per cent from ₹14,151.96 crore in the same month last year.
Railways also recorded higher freight transport output during the month.
Net tonne kilometres, a key indicator of freight movement, rose to 76,007 million NTKM in February 2026 from 72,955 million NTKM a year earlier, marking a 4.18 per cent increase.
The growth was supported by stronger movement in several core commodities.
The ministry said finished steel, iron ore and fertilizers made a significant contribution to the overall performance.
In the daily freight loading position, iron ore rose to 0.675 million tonnes from 0.529 million tonnes, while pig iron and finished steel increased to 0.343 million tonnes from 0.284 million tonnes.
Raw materials for steel plants excluding iron ore grew to 0.141 million tonnes from 0.096 million tonnes.
Fertilizer loading increased to 0.184 million tonnes from 0.167 million tonnes, mineral oil to 0.172 million tonnes from 0.146 million tonnes, and container EXIM traffic to 0.251 million tonnes from 0.213 million tonnes.
