Indian Railways has achieved remarkable milestones in both passenger and freight operations during 2025–26, setting new benchmarks in cargo transport while also recording strong growth in passenger traffic and revenue. These achievements reflect sustained improvements in operational efficiency, capacity expansion, and increasing reliance on rail-based transportation across sectors. Together, they reaffirm Railways’ role as the backbone of India’s logistics network and a provider of safe, reliable, and accessible mobility.
Passenger Growth Drives Revenue Expansion
Indian Railways reported robust growth in passenger traffic during the fiscal year. The total number of passengers carried reached 741 crore in 2025–26, marking a 3.54% increase over 716 crore in 2024–25.
Correspondingly, passenger revenue rose to approximately ₹80,000 crore, reflecting a 5.96% increase from ₹75,500 crore in the previous year. This growth highlights the continued rise in rail usage and improving financial performance driven by strong demand for passenger mobility.
Freight Operations Reach Record High
Freight performance also reached new highs, with Railways transporting a record 1,670 million tonnes (MT) of cargo in 2025–26, registering a 3.25% growth over the previous year.
This was supported by a 4.56% increase in wagons handled, which rose to 2.91 crore wagons from 2.79 crore in 2024–25. The steady rise in freight loading underscores the growing preference for rail as a cost-effective and efficient logistics solution for bulk transportation.
Key Commodities Fuel Growth
Growth in freight was primarily driven by strong performance in core sectors:
- Fertilisers: up 13.49%
- Pig Iron & Steel: up 13.11%
This reflects increasing demand for agricultural inputs and continued expansion in industrial activity, particularly in the steel sector.
Infrastructure Sectors Maintain Momentum
Core infrastructure commodities continued to sustain freight growth:
- Iron Ore: increased by 6.74% to 190.12 MT
- Cement: grew by 4.74% to 157.17 MT
These trends indicate ongoing infrastructure development and construction activity across the country, with Railways serving as a critical logistics enabler.
Broad-Based Growth Across Zones
Freight loading growth was observed across multiple railway zones, indicating balanced regional development:
- South Western Railway (SWR): +14.89%
- North Central Railway (NCR): +12.62%
- East Coast Railway (ECoR): +10.42%
- West Central Railway (WCR): +10.06%
Other zones also reported positive growth, reflecting enhanced freight handling capacity and improved operational efficiency across the network.
Freight Earnings Show Steady Rise
Freight earnings reached approximately ₹1,77,754 crore in 2025–26, marking a 1.44% increase over the previous year.
Top revenue-contributing commodities included:
- Iron Ore: ₹14,600.51 crore
- Cement: ₹13,599 crore
- Pig Iron & Finished Steel: ₹12,181 crore
- Fertilisers: ₹9,039 crore
- Food Grains: ₹8,312.5 crore
- Mineral Oil: ₹7,249.54 crore
Driving Economic Growth and Connectivity
With consistent growth in both freight and passenger segments, Indian Railways continues to strengthen its role in India’s economic ecosystem. Its expanding capacity, improved efficiency, and growing modal share in logistics highlight its importance in reducing transportation costs, enhancing connectivity, and supporting sustainable development.
