Passenger traffic expanded, with Indian Railways carrying 633.5 million passengers in July 2026 against 621.9 million a year earlier, across suburban and non‑suburban segments.
Indian Railways sustained strong operational momentum in July 2026, recording growth across freight and passenger segments. A Ministry of Railways release noted, “Higher freight loading, increased passenger traffic, improved revenue generation, and enhanced movement of key commodities underscore Indian Railways’ pivotal role in supporting economic growth, strengthening logistics and providing reliable mobility across the country.”
Freight loading rose to 141.3 million tonnes (MT) in July 2026, compared to 129.7 MT in July 2025, marking a 9 per cent increase. The performance reflects sustained demand across core sectors and continued efforts to improve logistics and efficiency.
Commodity‑wise growth was notable. Iron ore loading increased by 22.2 per cent, coal and food grains by 11.5 per cent each, fertilisers by 12 per cent, and other freight categories by 12.1 per cent. With rising coal demand at thermal power plants, domestic coal supply rose by 20 per cent year‑on‑year in July.
The increase in freight movement generated incremental revenue of ₹11.37 billion over July 2025, an 8 per cent growth. Among Zonal Railways, East Central Railway (33 per cent), Eastern Railway (33 per cent), West Central Railway (23 per cent), and South Eastern Railway (10.33 per cent) recorded notable gains in freight revenue.
Passenger traffic also continued to expand. Indian Railways carried 633.5 million passengers in July 2026, compared to 621.9 million in July 2025, with growth across both suburban and non‑suburban segments, reflecting rising preference for rail travel nationwide.