Lead Story
Indian Railways maintained its freight growth momentum by loading 145 million tonnes of freight in May 2026, registering a 1.3 per cent increase over May 2025. The growth was led by strong performance in the iron ore, steel, fertilisers and balance other goods segments.
The increase in loading was achieved despite challenges arising from the ongoing geopolitical situation in West Asia and its indirect impact on logistics and supply chains. Indian Railways remained focused on ensuring the uninterrupted movement of essential commodities across the country through continuous operational monitoring and efficient asset utilisation. Among major commodities, balance other goods registered a robust growth of 16 per cent, while iron ore loading increased by 4.8 per cent and pig iron and finished steel loading grew by 3.5 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.