Indian Railways freight loading holds firm under pressure
Indian Railways freight loading stayed on a growth path in May 2026, reaching 145 million tonnes as the national transporter posted a 1.3% increase from May 2025.
Indian Railways freight loading keeps momentum
The Ministry of Railways statement published by PIB said the May result was supported by stronger movement of Iron Ore, Steel, Fertilisers and Balance Other Goods. That performance helped Indian Railways keep its freight momentum, even as logistics and supply chains faced pressure linked to the geopolitical situation in West Asia.
The network kept its focus on uninterrupted movement of essential commodities across India. Close operational monitoring and efficient use of available assets helped freight flows remain stable through the month.
Commodity growth led by ore, steel and fertilisers
Balance Other Goods showed the strongest increase among the main freight categories, with volumes up by 16% year on year. Iron Ore loading rose by 4.8%, while Pig Iron & Finished Steel increased by 3.5% compared with the same period of the previous year.
Fertiliser loading also improved, rising by 6.2%. Coal remained the largest component of railway freight traffic, with loading nearly 1% higher than the previous year’s level.
Indian Railways also stepped up monitoring of domestic and EXIM container traffic. The measure was aimed at supporting seamless freight movement and helping economic activity continue across regions.
Passenger traffic rises with seasonal demand
Passenger traffic moved higher as well in May 2026. Indian Railways carried more than 61 crore passengers during the month, compared with around 59 crore passengers in May 2025.
The Non-Suburban segment accounted for the main increase. Passenger traffic in this category rose by 7.4%, moving from 28 crore to 30 crore over the corresponding period.
To handle the seasonal rise in travel demand, Indian Railways operated a large number of Summer Special Trains. The current service count includes 164 Vande Bharat services, including the recently introduced Sleeper Vande Bharat service between Howrah and Kamakhya, a route Railway Supply previously covered in its overview of Vande Bharat sleeper fares. In a separate update, PIB also reported the first commercial run of the Vande Bharat Sleeper service, while Amrit Bharat services have reached 68.
The May 2026 figures point to steady freight growth, stronger commodity performance and rising passenger patronage. Taken together, they reinforce the central role of Indian Railways in India’s transport network.
