Freight loading crosses 142 million tonnes while Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat expansion drives stronger passenger mobility across India

Key Highlights

• Indian Railways transported 142.21 million tonnes of freight in June 2026, registering 4% year-on-year growth.
• Freight revenue increased by 3%, generating an additional ₹430 crore over June 2025.
• Passenger traffic reached 63.81 crore, up from 62.37 crore during the same month last year.
• Freight loading during Q1 FY2026-27 crossed 419 million tonnes, surpassing the previous year’s performance.
• Fertiliser loading grew by 19.1%, Balance & Other Goods by 17.3%, Iron Ore by 9.4%, while coal supply to power plants increased by 7%.
• Indian Railways now operates 164 Vande Bharat and 72 Amrit Bharat train services across the country.

Indian Railways Maintains Strong Growth Momentum in Freight and Passenger Operations

New Delhi, July 2, 2026: Indian Railways continued its robust operational performance in June 2026, recording healthy growth across both freight transportation and passenger services. The latest figures underline the national transporter’s expanding role in supporting India’s logistics network, economic growth and domestic mobility.

During June, Indian Railways carried 142.21 million tonnes of freight, compared to 136.71 million tonnes in June 2025, reflecting a 4% year-on-year increase. Freight earnings also rose by 3%, generating an additional ₹430 crore during the month.

Freight Demand Driven by Core Industries

Several key commodity segments posted strong growth, highlighting continued demand from agriculture, infrastructure and industrial sectors.

Major freight growth during June 2026 included:

• Fertilisers: +19.1%
• Balance & Other Goods: +17.3%
• Iron Ore: +9.4%
• Clinker: +7.2%
• Domestic Coal: +4.9%
• Total Coal: +3.6%

To meet higher electricity demand during the extended summer season, Indian Railways also transported 7% more coal to thermal power plants compared to June last year, supporting uninterrupted power generation nationwide.

The momentum continued through the first quarter of FY2026-27, with freight loading reaching 419.08 million tonnes, surpassing the 413.05 million tonnes handled during the corresponding period of FY2025-26.

Passenger Traffic Continues Upward Trend

Passenger travel also remained strong, with Indian Railways carrying 63.81 crore passengers during June 2026, compared to 62.37 crore in the same month last year.

The Non-Suburban segment, which includes intercity and long-distance travel, recorded 3.9% growth, increasing from 28.90 crore to 30.04 crore passengers.

Meanwhile, the Suburban segment also registered positive growth of 0.9%, carrying 33.77 crore passengers.

Expansion of Premium Rail Services

Indian Railways continues to modernise its passenger offerings with the expansion of premium train services.

The network now operates:

• 164 Vande Bharat trains, including the recently introduced Howrah–Kamakhya Vande Bharat Sleeper service.
• 72 Amrit Bharat trains, with four new services launched during June to improve affordable long-distance connectivity.

The expansion reflects Indian Railways’ focus on delivering faster, safer and more comfortable travel while improving connectivity across regions.

Hospitality & Tourism Impact

The continued growth in passenger traffic is a positive indicator for India’s hospitality, travel and tourism sectors. Nearly 64 crore passenger journeys in a single month demonstrate sustained domestic travel demand, benefiting hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, tour operators and local tourism economies across the country.

The increasing footprint of Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains is particularly significant for tourism, as improved connectivity encourages weekend getaways, pilgrimage travel, heritage tourism and business travel between major cities and emerging destinations. Faster and more comfortable rail services also help expand tourism beyond metro cities, supporting regional hospitality businesses and boosting visitor spending.

On the freight side, higher transportation volumes improve supply chain efficiency for the hospitality industry by ensuring smoother movement of food products, beverages, construction materials and essential commodities. Together, these operational gains reinforce Indian Railways’ critical role in supporting India’s tourism economy while strengthening the country’s logistics and transport infrastructure.