Indian Railways has witnessed a remarkable surge in freight movement, with total freight loading reaching 1,465.371 million tonnes (MT) in the first 11 months of FY 2024-25. This milestone has already exceeded the entire freight loading of 1,443.166 MT recorded in 2023-24, underscoring the national transporter’s steady progress toward its ambitious target of 3,000 MT by 2027.
Freight transportation remains the financial backbone of Indian Railways, contributing nearly 65 per cent of its revenue. Commodities like coal, iron ore, and cement account for over 60 per cent of total freight loading, driving substantial revenue growth. Over the past decade, the expansion of India’s railway network —adding more than 34,000 km of new tracks—has significantly bolstered both freight and passenger operations. The development of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) has further enhanced efficiency, enabling faster and more reliable freight movement.
In January, the DFC network achieved a new milestone, reinforcing its role in streamlining logistics. On average, 391 freight trains operated daily on DFC routes in the first month of 2025, with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) handling 209 trains and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) managing 182 trains per day. Officials emphasized that diverting freight traffic to the EDFC has eased congestion on traditional routes, facilitating smoother passenger train operations.
During the Maha Kumbh Mela, the freight corridors played a crucial role in ensuring seamless train movement, particularly in the Prayagraj Division.
Meanwhile, to meet the rising demand, locomotive production has also surged. Indian Railways manufactured 1,346 locomotives in the current financial year up to January 2025, marking a 9 per cent increase from the 1,235 locomotives produced in 2023-24.
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