According to Indian Railways, coal transportation increased by 9% in September compared with the corresponding period last year. The increase in freight movement also contributed to a rise in the railway's earnings during the month.
The Railway Ministry shared the figures on Tuesday, highlighting an increase in the number of freight train rakes deployed to transport domestic coal to power plants. In September 2026, an average of around 443 freight train rakes were dispatched daily to deliver domestic coal to power plants. In September 2025, the corresponding average stood at 397 rakes per day. This represents an increase of 11.6% in the number of freight train rakes transporting coal to power plants.
Coal was not the only commodity that recorded growth in freight transportation. Several other categories also registered higher volumes during September 2026 compared with the corresponding period last year.
Food and beverages recorded the highest growth among the listed commodities, with freight transportation increasing by 25%. Clinker, which is used in cement manufacturing, registered a 20% increase, while domestic containers recorded 10% growth. Coal transportation rose by 9%, followed by other goods at 8.2%.
Mineral oil transportation increased by 6%, while finished steel recorded growth of 5.5%. Iron ore transportation also registered an increase of 5.2% during the period.
The rise in freight volumes translated into higher earnings for Indian Railways. In September 2026, the railway earned Rs 1,266 crore more from freight transportation than it did in September last year. Freight revenue increased by 9.3% during the month compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
Indian Railways has set a target of increasing its annual freight transportation volume to 300 crore tonnes by 2031. For the ongoing financial year 2026-27, the railway expects to transport around 175 crore tonnes of goods by the end of the year.
The September figures highlight growth in freight volumes across multiple commodity categories, with coal transportation and higher freight revenue contributing to Indian Railways' progress towards its long-term transportation target.
About The Author
Comment List