Indian Railways has recorded a significant surge in freight movement, with total loading reaching 1,465.371 million tonnes (MT) in the first 11 months of the financial year 2024-25. This figure has already surpassed the full-year freight loading of 1,443.166 MT in 2023-24, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Railways.
The national transporter has set an ambitious target of achieving 3,000 MT in freight loading by 2027. “Indian Railways is steadily progressing toward its ambitious target, achieving 1,465.371 MT in FY 2024-25 till March 2,” the ministry stated.
Freight transportation remains the backbone of Indian Railways, accounting for nearly 65 percent of its total revenue. Key commodities such as coal, iron ore, and cement make up over 60 percent of total freight loading and revenue generation.
Over the past 11 years, the movement of both freight and passenger trains has risen significantly, supported by the addition of more than 34,000 km of new railway tracks across the country. The expansion of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) has further enhanced the speed and efficiency of freight operations.
In January, the DFC network set a new milestone in freight train operations, highlighting its growing role in India’s logistics and transportation sector. According to the Ministry of Railways, an average of 391 trains operated daily on DFC tracks in the first month of 2025. The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) handled 209 trains per day on average, while the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) managed 182 trains daily.
A railway official noted that the DFC’s increasing reliance for seamless freight transportation underscores its importance in industrial and economic growth. The successful diversion of all freight traffic from East Central Railway and North Central Railway to EDFC has eased congestion on adjacent zonal railways, enabling smoother operations for passenger trains.
The freight corridor played a vital role during the Maha Kumbh Mela, ensuring the uninterrupted movement of both freight and passenger trains, particularly in the Prayagraj Division.
In response to rising demand, locomotive production for Indian Railways has also increased significantly. In the current financial year up to January 2025, Indian Railways manufactured 1,346 locomotives, marking a more than 9 percent rise from the 1,235 locomotives produced in 2023-24.
—IANS
