Demand from core sectors lifted freight volumes, with fertiliser, iron ore, coal, clinker, and other categories showing strong growth.
Indian Railways, the world’s fourth‑largest rail network, continued its strong operational performance in June 2026, recording steady growth in both freight and passenger services.
The Railways loaded 142.21 million tonnes (MT) of freight during the month, compared to 136.71 MT a year earlier, marking a 4 per cent increase. Freight earnings rose by about ₹4.3 billion, up 3 per cent year‑on‑year, according to a Ministry of Railways release on Thursday.
Demand from core sectors drove growth across key commodities. Fertiliser loading rose 19.1 per cent, iron ore 9.4 per cent, domestic coal 4.9 per cent, total coal 3.6 per cent, clinker 7.2 per cent, and other freight categories 17.3 per cent.
The strong June performance builds on momentum from the first quarter of FY2026‑27, when freight volumes reached 419.08 MT, up from 413.05 MT in the same period last year. Iron ore, clinker, and other freight categories all registered healthy gains.
To meet higher demand from thermal power stations during the extended summer, the Railways supplied 7 per cent more coal to power plants in June, ensuring uninterrupted electricity generation nationwide.
Passenger Growth
Passenger mobility also grew steadily. The Railways carried 638.1 million passengers in June, up from 623.7 million last year. Non‑suburban travel rose 3.9 per cent to 300.4 million passengers, while suburban journeys increased 0.9 per cent to 33.77 crore.
Modernisation efforts continued with the expansion of premium train services. Vande Bharat operations have grown to 164, including the new sleeper service between Howrah and Kamakhya, while Amrit Bharat services reached 72, with four new trains launched in June.