The Railway Ministry has stated that it has set a new record in cargo transportation by carrying 1,670 million tonnes of freight and registering a growth of 3.25 per cent over the previous year. The Ministry said that the performance was complemented by a 4.56 per cent 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 growth in freight transportation has been largely driven by key sectors such as fertilisers (13.49 per cent), pig iron and steel (13.11 per cent), it said. Providing zone-wise loading performance, it said that the FY 2025-26 reflects broad-based growth across several regions, with South-Western Railway recording the highest increase of 14.89 per cent over the previous year. Other zones demonstrating strong double-digit growth include North Central Railway at 12.62 per cent, East Coast Railway at 10.42 per cent, and West Central Railway at 10.06 per cent, the Ministry communique read.