Indian Railways Extends Record Run: Freight Loading Jumps 2.3% in October 2025

Indian Railways recorded a 2.3% increase in freight loading in October 2025 compared to the same month last year. Total freight handled stood at 133.9 million tonnes (mt). As per the news reports, monthly earnings from freight reached ₹14,216.4 crore, which is the highest ever recorded by the national transporter for a single month.

Commodity Data

Freight movement for pig iron and finished steel rose by 18.4% in October. Iron ore went up by 4.8%, fertilisers by 27.8%, containers by 5.7%, and balance other goods by 10.8%. Coal loading declined by 2.5% to 65.9 mt. 

Despite this fall, cumulative coal movement from April to October 2025 remained stable at 462.8 mt, up 0.2% compared to the same period last year.

April-October Overview

Between April and October 2025, total freight loading reached 935.1 mt, showing a 3.1% increase year-on-year. Total earnings from freight for this period were ₹1,00,920 crore. Data shows that while coal continues to dominate, other categories such as containers and miscellaneous goods have seen consistent growth.

Scheduled Freight Services

In a plan to improve logistics efficiency, Indian Railways has rolled out scheduled cargo services for specific commodities. These operate on fixed timetables linking production hubs to major consumption areas.

• Annapurna Service: Food grains from Ludhiana to Varanasi, 704 km, 17 hours.
• Gati-Vahan Service: Automobiles from Farrukhnagar to Lucknow, 557 km, 28 hours (earlier 70 hours).
• Niryaat Cargo Service: Containers from Garhi to Mundra Port, 1,061 km, 32 hours.
• Anantnag Cement Cargo Service: Cement from Roopnagar to Anantnag, 586 km, 31 hours.

Coordination and Future Plans

These services were started after consultations with the Food Corporation of India, automobile manufacturers, container train operators, and other freight partners. Discussions are underway to launch a scheduled export-import service between Tughlakabad Inland Container Depot and Adani Mundra Port, along with another route planned for Kolkata.

Read More: Best Railway Stocks for November 2025: Titagarh Rail, BEML, Jupiter Wagons, and More - Based on 5Y CAGR!

Conclusion

Indian Railways continued its freight growth trend in October, supported by steady non-coal cargo volumes and record monthly earnings.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions. 

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.