<p data-path-to-node="3" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Indian Railways loaded 135.35 million tonnes of freight in September 2026, marking a 6.14 percent growth compared to the 127.52 million tonnes loaded in the same month last year. This sustained growth reflects the continued robust demand for rail transportation across major sectors of the economy.</p><p data-path-to-node="4" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Several key commodity segments experienced strong growth during the month. Food grain loading surged by 25 percent, while clinker shipments increased by 20 percent. Other notable gains included a 10 percent rise in domestic containers, a 9 percent increase in coal, an 8.2 percent rise in balance other goods, a 6 percent increase in mineral oil, and a 5.5 percent growth in finished steel.</p><p data-path-to-node="5" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">To support domestic energy needs, the railway network significantly stepped up its coal supply to power houses. The average number of coal rakes supplied per day rose to 443 in September 2026, representing an 11.6 percent increase from the 397 rakes supplied daily during the corresponding period last year. This operational boost translated to a freight revenue increase of ₹1,266 crore for the month, representing a 9.3 percent growth over September 2025.</p><p data-path-to-node="6" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">On a cumulative basis for the first half of the financial year (April-September 2026), Indian Railways crossed a major milestone by loading 833.7 million tonnes of freight. This cumulative performance reflects a 4.1 percent growth over the corresponding period in the previous year, alongside a 3.7 percent increase in overall freight revenue.</p><p data-path-to-node="7" id="p-rc_5da9c00d87b9deaa-98" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="7,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The national performance was bolstered by strong regional and zonal contributions across the network. For instance, the South Western Railway (SWR) independently recorded a 5.9 percent increase in its September freight loading</span><span data-path-to-node="7,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c121725205="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c121725205="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="7,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. These regional operational efficiencies remain crucial to sustaining the overall national growth trajectory.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3405894425="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <!----><source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c3405894425="" _nghost-ng-c3237025005="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="8" id="p-rc_5da9c00d87b9deaa-99" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="8,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Adding to this logistical momentum, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) achieved a significant operational milestone by setting a daily record with 946 freight train interchanges</span><span data-path-to-node="8,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c121725205="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c121725205="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. To further optimize and secure these expanding operations, Indian Railways is also planning to integrate artificial intelligence to improve overall freight wagon safety</span><span data-path-to-node="8,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c121725205="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c121725205="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3405894425="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <!----><source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c3405894425="" _nghost-ng-c3237025005="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="9" id="p-rc_5da9c00d87b9deaa-100" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="9,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">To accommodate this surging demand, public sector operators are actively expanding their physical capacity. The Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) recently placed a major ₹87.15 crore order for 12 new rakes of BLSS wagons</span><span data-path-to-node="9,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c121725205="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c121725205="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="9,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. Furthermore, CONCOR's Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Dadri set a new record specifically for reefer container movement in September, aligning perfectly with the double-digit rise in domestic container traffic</span><span data-path-to-node="9,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c121725205="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c121725205="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="9,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3405894425="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <!----><source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c3405894425="" _nghost-ng-c3237025005="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="10" id="p-rc_5da9c00d87b9deaa-101" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="10,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">This sustained railway expansion is part of a larger, coordinated push to optimize the nation's multimodal supply chains. Showcasing parallel growth, India's major ports also recorded an 8 percent increase in cargo traffic, reaching 472.75 million tonnes during the same April to September period</span><span data-path-to-node="10,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c121725205="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c121725205="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="10,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. To ensure these vital rail and maritime networks scale in tandem, the Union Cabinet has also approved the creation of a dedicated authority designed specifically to coordinate India's integrated transport planning</span><span data-path-to-node="10,3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c121725205="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c121725205="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="10,4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3405894425="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></sources-carousel-inline></p>