Indian Railways Records Highest-Ever October Freight Loading at 145.07 Million Tonnes

Indian Railways recorded its highest-ever freight loading for October 2026, transporting 145.07 million tonnes of goods during the month. This was 8.32% higher than the 133.93 million tonnes handled in October last year. 

Food grains and domestic coal were among the main contributors to the increase, according to figures released by the Press Information Bureau on November 4. 

Food Grains and Coal Lead Freight Growth 

Food grain loading registered the strongest growth among the major commodities, rising 26.3% year on year. Domestic coal loading increased 16%, while the balance category of other goods grew 11%. 

Other segments also reported gains. Clinker loading rose 10.4%, domestic containers increased 6.3%, iron ore grew 5% and mineral oil was up 1.9%. Finished steel loading recorded a smaller increase of 0.5%. 

Coal Supply to Power Houses Increases 

Railways stepped up domestic coal transportation to meet the requirements of power houses during October. 

The average number of coal rakes supplied per day reached 469.8, compared with 393.2 in October 2025. This represented an increase of 19.5%. 

April-October Freight Loading Crosses 978 Million Tonnes 

Freight loading during April-October 2026 stood at 978.78 million tonnes, against 935.10 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year. The cumulative figure was higher by 4.67%. 

Passenger Traffic Also Moves Higher 

Passenger movement also increased during October. Indian Railways carried 64.72 crore passengers during the month, compared with 63.52 crore a year earlier. 

For April-October, passenger traffic reached 443.8 crore, up from 431.4 crore in the same period last year. Non-suburban passenger traffic grew 4.2%, while suburban traffic increased 1.7%. 

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Conclusion 

Indian Railways recorded growth in both freight loading and passenger traffic during October. Higher movement of food grains and domestic coal supported the monthly freight record, while the April-October figures also remained ahead of the previous year's levels. 

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