Foodgrain transportation surges 26.3 pc, domestic coal loading rises 16 pc; passenger traffic also registers growth

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 4, 2026

Indian Railways has achieved its highest-ever freight loading for the month of October, transporting 145.07 million tonnes of goods in October 2026, marking an impressive 8.32 per cent growth over 133.93 million tonnes recorded in the corresponding month last year, reflecting sustained momentum in the country's economic and logistics sectors.

The robust performance was driven by a significant increase in the transportation of key commodities, with foodgrain loading registering the highest growth of 26.3 per cent, followed by domestic coal at 16 per cent and balance other goods at 11 per cent, according to official data released on Wednesday.

Clinker loading grew by 10.4 per cent, domestic container traffic by 6.3 per cent and iron ore transportation by 5 per cent during the month. Mineral oil and finished steel loading also recorded growth of 1.9 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively.

Significantly, Indian Railways stepped up domestic coal transportation to meet the rising requirements of power houses, supplying an average of 469.8 rakes per day in October 2026 against 393.2 rakes per day in the year-ago period, registering a substantial growth of 19.5 per cent.

The strong October performance further consolidated the railways' freight momentum during the first seven months of the current financial year. Cumulative freight loading during April-October 2026 stood at 978.78 million tonnes, up 4.67 per cent from 935.10 million tonnes recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Passenger transportation also maintained its upward trajectory, with Indian Railways carrying 64.72 crore passengers in October 2026, compared to 63.52 crore in the same month last year.

On a cumulative basis, passenger traffic during April-October 2026 increased to 443.8 crore from 431.4 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

The non-suburban passenger segment registered a growth of 4.2 per cent during the seven-month period, while suburban passenger traffic increased by 1.7 per cent, indicating continued expansion in passenger mobility across the railway network.

The simultaneous growth in freight and passenger transportation underscores Indian Railways' expanding role in supporting economic activity, ensuring the movement of essential commodities and strengthening the country's multimodal logistics ecosystem.