Indian Railways Freight Revenue Hits ₹14,571 Crore in February 2026

New Delhi, March 6, 2026: Indian Railways recorded robust freight performance in February 2026, earning ₹14,571.99 crore in freight revenue and transporting 137.72 million tonnes of goods, marking a 3.96% year-on-year increase from February 2025. This growth underscores the railways’ critical role in supporting industrial and economic activity across the country.

Key Freight Highlights

Total Freight Volume: 137.72 million tonnes in February 2026, up from 132.48 million tonnes in February 2025.
Freight Revenue: ₹14,571.99 crore, a 2.97% increase compared to ₹14,151.96 crore last year.
Transport Output (NTKM): 76,007 million Net Tonne Kilometres (NTKM), up 4.18% from 72,955 million NTKM in February 2025.

Commodities Driving Growth

Growth in February was largely fueled by core industrial commodities:

Iron Ore: 0.675 million tonnes (+27.6%)
Pig Iron & Finished Steel: 0.343 million tonnes (+20.8%)
Raw Materials for Steel Plants (excl. Iron Ore): 0.141 million tonnes (+46.9%)
Fertilizers: 0.184 million tonnes (+10.2%)
Mineral Oil: 0.172 million tonnes (+17.8%)
Container EXIM Traffic: 0.251 million tonnes (+17.8%)

Cumulative performance for the month also showed strong growth:

Fertilizers: 5.396 million tonnes (+27.7%)
Clinker: 6.508 million tonnes (+20.1%)
Pig Iron & Finished Steel: 6.237 million tonnes (+12.9%)
Iron Ore: 16.370 million tonnes (+9.7%)
Container EXIM Traffic: 5.432 million tonnes (+5.6%)
Container Domestic Traffic: 2.015 million tonnes (+2.3%)

These figures indicate sustained demand for essential commodities and industrial materials, reflecting India’s economic activity and robust logistics requirements.

Cumulative Freight Performance FY 2025–26

From April 2025 to February 2026, Indian Railways carried 1,503.80 million tonnes of freight, up 3.28% from 1,456.07 million tonnes during the same period last year. Freight revenue for the 11 months reached ₹1,60,987 crore, a 1.54% increase over the previous year. Total NTKM moved rose to 840,000 million, registering a 1.62% increase.

Strengthening National Logistics

Indian Railways continues to expand freight capacity through:

Infrastructure upgrades at key terminals
Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) for faster cargo movement
Digital freight management systems for efficient operations

These initiatives are improving the speed, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of goods transport across India, bolstering the nation’s supply chain and industrial growth.

Economic Impact

Rail freight remains one of the most economical and environmentally friendly modes of bulk transport, ensuring timely delivery of raw materials and finished products. The sector’s consistent growth is pivotal for supporting India’s manufacturing, agriculture, and export-oriented industries.

Indian Railways’ performance in February 2026 demonstrates its continued role as the backbone of India’s logistics network, contributing significantly to the country’s economic expansion and industrial resilience.