Indian Railways posts 4.2% rise in November freight loading

By Admin

05 Dec, 2025

Strengthening Supply Chains and Supporting India’s Trade Growth

Steady growth in freight movement continues to power India’s logistics ecosystem, as Indian Railways reported a 4.2% rise in freight loading in November. Total freight handled stood at 135.7 million tonnes, up from 130.2 million tonnes in the same month last year, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

Strong Growth Across Key Commodities
The growth was broad-based, driven by improved performance in multiple commodity segments. Pig iron and finished steel registered a robust 16% rise, followed by iron ore at 9.7% and fertilisers at 10.6%. Container traffic increased by 6.8%, while miscellaneous goods saw an impressive surge of 23.6%. This diversified expansion highlights the growing preference for rail transport across industries.

Record Freight Volumes in FY 2025–26
From April to November, Indian Railways achieved cumulative freight loading of 1,070.8 million tonnes marking a 3.3% growth over the same period last year. Remarkably, freight handled in the first eight months of FY 2025–26 has already surpassed the total loading of the entire 2013–14 fiscal, which stood at 1,055 million tonnes. This underlines the system’s expanding capacity and operational efficiency.

Boosting India’s Domestic Supply Chain
The sustained rise in freight movement is playing a crucial role in strengthening domestic supply chains. By supporting both internal and external trade, Indian Railways continues to serve as a dependable logistics backbone for key industries across the nation.

Cost-Effective and Efficient Logistics
Rail transport remains one of the most cost-effective modes of freight movement. With rail logistics costing nearly 50% less than road transport, industries benefit from substantial savings and improved competitiveness. This makes rail an attractive option for bulk cargo, long-distance movement, and large-scale industrial operations.

Driving India’s Sustainability Goals
The shift from road to rail is also delivering significant environmental benefits. Rail transport reduces carbon emissions, lowers fuel consumption, eases road congestion, and provides a greener logistics alternative for businesses including MSMEs. This progress aligns seamlessly with India’s long-term Net Zero Carbon Emission goals.

Supporting India’s $5 Trillion Economy Vision
“With India progressing toward its target of becoming a $5 trillion economy, efficient and scalable logistics are essential,” the statement noted. Indian Railways continues to drive record freight movement while simultaneously transporting over two crore passengers every day solidifying its position as the backbone of the nation’s transport network.