Railways Sets New Record in Passenger Traffic and Cargo Transport in 2025–26
1st April 2026
Indian Railways has achieved significant milestones in both passenger operations and freight during 2025–26, setting new records in cargo transport while also reporting robust growth in passenger traffic and revenue. These achievements reflect sustained improvements in operational efficiency, capacity enhancement, and the growing reliance on rail-based transportation by both key sectors of the economy and everyday commuters
Indian Railways Carries 741 Crore Passengers this Year; Up 3.54% from Previous Year
Passenger Revenue Rises 5.96% as Indian Railways Boosts Earnings from Rs 75,500 Crore in 2024-25 to Rs 80,000 Crore in 2025–26
With 3.25% Higher Freight Loading, Railways Carries Record 1670 Million Tonnes Cargo
More than 13% Surge each in Both Fertiliser and ‘Pig Iron & Steel’ Transportation Drives The Impressive Growth
Iron Ore Transportation Up by 6.74%; Cement by 4.74%
South Western Railway, North Central Railway, East Coast Railway, and West Central Railway Zones Lead the Impressive Performance by Registering Double Digit Growth in Freight Loading
Increased Passenger Traffic and Revenue Growth
Indian Railways has reported robust growth in passenger traffic and revenue for the fiscal year. The total number of passengers carried rose to 741 crore in 2025–26, a 3.54% increase over 716 crore in 2024–25, reflecting sustained growth in rail usage across the country. Correspondingly, total revenue reached approximately Rs 80,000 crore in 2025–26, marking a 5.96% increase from Rs 75,500 crore in 2024–25, driven by strong passenger traffic and earnings. These figures underscore Indian Railways’ expanding role in passenger mobility and its improving financial performance year-on-year
Freight Growth Highlights Increasing Logistics Demand
During 2025–26, Indian Railways carried a record 1670 Million Tonnes (MT) of freight, registering a growth of 3.25% over the previous year. This strong performance was complemented by a 4.56% increase in the number of wagons handled, which rose from 2,79,12,271 in 2024–25 to 2,91,86,475 in 2025–26. The steady rise in freight loading highlights the increasing demand for reliable, cost-effective, and efficient logistics solutions, positioning Railways as a preferred mode of transport for bulk commodities
The growth has been largely driven by key sectors such as Fertilisers (13.49%), ‘Pig Iron and Steel’ (13.11%). This reflects both the rising demand for agricultural inputs across regions and the continued expansion of industrial activity, particularly in the steel sector
Iron Ore and Cement Sustain Infrastructure Momentum
Core infrastructure commodities have also played a crucial role in sustaining this momentum. Iron Ore transportation increased by 6.74%, reaching 190.12 MT, while Cement loading grew by 4.74% to 157.17 MT. These trends indicate ongoing infrastructure development and construction activity across the country, where Railways continues to serve as a vital logistics partner
Balanced Growth Across Railway Zones
Zone-wise loading performance during 2025–26 reflects broad-based growth across several regions, with South Western Railway (SWR) recording the highest increase of 14.89% over the previous year. Other zones demonstrating strong double-digit growth include North Central Railway (NCR) at 12.62%, East Coast Railway (ECoR) at 10.42%, and West Central Railway (WCR) at 10.06%
Additional zones that registered positive growth include Eastern Railway (ER) (0.78%), East Central Railway (ECR) (0.39%), North Eastern Railway (NER) (0.25%), Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) (6.75%), North Western Railway (NWR) (5.17%), South Central Railway (SCR) (2.59%), South East Central Railway (SECR) (3.18%), Southern Railway (SR) (1.10%), and Western Railway (WR) (3.57%). This widespread improvement across zones highlights balanced regional development and enhanced freight handling capacity across the Indian Railways network
In addition to strong loading performance, Indian Railways has also registered robust freight earnings, which have reached approximately Rs 1,77,754 crore in 2025–26, reflecting a 1.44% increase over Rs 1,75,302 crore in 2024–25. Among commodities, Iron Ore emerged as the highest revenue contributor with earnings of Rs 14,600.51 crore, followed by Cement (Rs 13,599 crore), Pig Iron & Finished Steel (Rs 12,181 crore), Fertilisers (Rs 9,039 crore), Food Grains (Rs 8,312.5 crore), and Mineral Oil (Rs 7,249.54 crore).