**Executive Summary**
This document reports on the strong growth in freight loading and revenue for Indian Railways in February 2026. Key commodities like steel, iron ore, and fertilizers drove this performance. Cumulative freight loading has reached 1,503.8 MT, with revenue also showing an increase compared to the previous year.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **February 2026 Performance:**
* Freight carried: 137.72 million tonnes, a 3.96% increase from February 2025.
* Freight revenue: ₹14,571.99 crore, a 2.97% increase from February 2025.
* Net Tonne Kilometres (NTKM): 76,007 million NTKM, a 4.18% growth from February 2025.
* **Growth Drivers by Core Commodities:**
* Significant contributions from coal, iron ore, finished steel, fertilizers, cement, and container traffic.
* Notable year-on-year growth in specific commodities:
* Iron Ore: 0.675 million tonnes (up 27.6%)
* Pig Iron and Finished Steel: 0.343 million tonnes (up 20.8%)
* Raw Materials for Steel Plants (excluding Iron Ore): 0.141 million tonnes (up 46.9%)
* Fertilizers: 0.184 million tonnes (up 10.2%)
* Mineral Oil: 0.172 million tonnes (up 17.8%)
* Container EXIM traffic: 0.251 million tonnes (up 17.8%)
* **Cumulative Performance (April 2025 - February 2026):**
* Total freight carried: 1,503.80 million tonnes, a 3.28% increase from the previous year.
* Total freight revenue: ₹1,60,987 crore, a 1.54% increase from the previous year.
* Total freight movement (NTKM): 840,000 million NTKM, a 1.62% growth from the previous year.
* **Strategic Initiatives:**
* Indian Railways is enhancing freight logistics through capacity augmentation, improved terminal infrastructure, dedicated freight corridors, and digital freight management systems.
* These initiatives aim to improve efficiency and reduce logistics costs for industries.
**Impact Analysis**
**Industries and Businesses**
* **Impact:** Benefit from more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective transportation of raw materials and finished products across long distances. This supports their supply chains and overall economic activity.
* **Action Required:** Continue to leverage Indian Railways' services for freight movement.
**Indian Railways**
* **Impact:** Achieves strong revenue growth and demonstrates its crucial role in supporting the national economy and logistics network.
* **Action Required:** Continue to invest in infrastructure and operations to maintain and enhance its role.
**Economy of India**
* **Impact:** Supported by efficient transportation of essential commodities, contributing to sustained demand and economic growth.
* **Action Required:** Benefit from the continued reliable and cost-effective logistics provided by Indian Railways.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways: The primary entity responsible for freight transportation and revenue generation discussed in the policy.
Net Tonne Kilometres (NTKM): A key indicator of freight movement and transport output, central to measuring performance.
Dedicated Freight Corridors: An initiative aimed at strengthening freight logistics by Indian Railways.
Ministry of Railways
Strong Growth in Steel, Iron Ore and Fertilizer
Traffic Helps Railways Earn Freight Revenue of
₹14,571 Crore in February
Freight Loading Rises Nearly 4% to 137.72 MT in February
2026 from 132.48 MT in February Last Year
Cumulative Freight Loading Reaches 1,503.8 MT as Revenue
Touches ₹1.61 Lakh Crore so far in 11 Months of this Fiscal
Posted On: 06 MAR 2026 5:05PM by PIB Delhi
Indian Railways continues to play a crucial role in supporting the country’s economic activity by ensuring
efficient transportation of essential commodities such as coal, steel, fertilizers, cement, food grains and
containers. Freight operations in February 2026 recorded steady growth compared with the same period last
year, reflecting the sustained demand for rail-based logistics across sectors.
During February 2026, Indian Railways carried 137.72 million tonnes of freight, registering a 3.96%
increase compared to 132.48 million tonnes in February 2025. Freight revenue during the month stood
at ₹14,571.99 crore, up from ₹14,151.96 crore in the corresponding month last year, reflecting a 2.97%
increase.
Railways also recorded strong performance in terms of transport output. Net Tonne Kilometres (NTKM),
which is a key indicator of freight movement, reached 76,007 million NTKM in February 2026,
compared with 72,955 million NTKM in February 2025, registering a 4.18% growth.
Growth Driven by Core Commodities
A significant portion of freight traffic continues to be driven by core sector commodities. During the
month, Indian Railways transported large volumes of coal, iron ore, finished steel, fertilizers, cement and
container traffic. Growth in commodities such as finished steel, iron ore and fertilizers contributed
significantly to the overall freight performance.
Performance across key commodities also remained encouraging. In the daily freight loading position,
commodities such as Iron Ore, Pig Iron and Finished Steel, Raw Materials for Steel Plants (excluding Iron
Ore), Fertilizers, Mineral Oil and Container EXIM traffic recorded notable year-on-year growth. Iron Ore
loading stood at 0.675 million tonnes compared to 0.529 million tonnes last year (up 27.6%), while Pig
Iron and Finished Steel registered 0.343 million tonnes compared to 0.284 million tonnes last year (up
20.8%). Raw Materials for Steel Plants (excluding Iron Ore) grew to 0.141 million tonnes from 0.096
million tonnes (up 46.9%). Similarly, Fertilizer loading increased to 0.184 million tonnes from 0.167
million tonnes (up 10.2%), Mineral Oil to 0.172 million tonnes from 0.146 million tonnes (up 17.8%), and
Container EXIM traffic to 0.251 million tonnes from 0.213 million tonnes (up 17.8%).In the monthly cumulative performance for February, several commodities registered strong growth
compared to the same period last year. Fertilizer loading increased to 5.396 million tonnes from 4.224
million tonnes (up 27.7%), while Clinker rose to 6.508 million tonnes from 5.421 million tonnes (up
20.1%). Pig Iron and Finished Steel loading reached 6.237 million tonnes compared to 5.522 million
tonnes (up 12.9%), and Iron Ore grew to 16.370 million tonnes from 14.925 million tonnes (up 9.7%).
Growth was also observed in Container EXIM traffic (5.432 million tonnes vs 5.142 million tonnes, up
5.6%) and Container Domestic traffic (2.015 million tonnes vs 1.970 million tonnes, up 2.3%), indicating
sustained demand across key industrial and logistics segments.
Rail freight remains one of the most economical and environmentally efficient modes of transportation for
bulk goods, helping industries move raw materials and finished products across long distances in a reliable
and cost-effective manner.
Strong Cumulative Freight Performance in FY 2025–26
Indian Railways has also recorded positive growth in cumulative freight performance during the current
financial year.
During the period 1 April 2025 to 28 February 2026, Indian Railways carried 1,503.80 million tonnes of
freight, compared with 1,456.07 million tonnes during the same period of the previous year, registering a
3.28% increase.
Freight revenue during this period reached ₹1,60,987 crore, as compared to ₹1,58,539.86 crore in the
corresponding period last year, marking a 1.54% increase.
Total freight movement measured in NTKM stood at 840,000 million, compared with 826,586 million
NTKM in the previous year, reflecting a 1.62% growth.
Supporting Economic Growth and National Logistics
Indian Railways continues to strengthen freight logistics through capacity augmentation, improved
terminal infrastructure, dedicated freight corridors and digital freight management systems. These
initiatives are helping industries and businesses move goods more efficiently while reducing logistics
costs.
With continued investments in infrastructure and freight operations, Indian Railways remains committed
to enhancing its role as the backbone of the country’s logistics network and supporting India’s economic
growth.
*****
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Ritu Raj/ Manik Sharma
(Release ID: 2235984) Visitor Counter : 315
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Kannada