New Delhi: Indian Railways recorded strong growth in both freight and passenger traffic in August 2026, with freight loading rising 5.4% year-on-year and 14 Amrit Bharat services being regularised to expand affordable long-distance connectivity.
The railways loaded 137.9 million tonnes of freight in August, up from 130.9 million tonnes during the same month last year. Freight revenue also increased 6.27% year-on-year, indicating continued growth in demand for rail-based transportation.
Several key commodity segments registered higher loading during the month. Iron ore loading rose 12.1%, followed by clinker at 10.4%, domestic containers at 9.2% and coal at 6%.
Finished steel loading grew 4.9%, while mineral oil and fertilisers recorded increases of 3.1% and 1.6%, respectively. Loading of other goods rose 8.2%.
The railways said the growth would strengthen supply chains for industries and improve the movement of essential commodities and finished goods across the country.
Five new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) were commissioned in August, taking the total number of operational terminals to 149 as of August 31.
The new terminals are located at Shivlakha in Gujarat, Nalli in Tamil Nadu, Shaktinagar in Uttar Pradesh, Deoragram in Madhya Pradesh and Brajrajnagar in Odisha.
The terminals are aimed at bringing freight-handling facilities closer to production and consumption centres and improving last-mile connectivity for industries.
Passenger connectivity also received a boost, with 14 Amrit Bharat services being regularised from special trains to regular services. This took the total number of Amrit Bharat services to 86.
The services connect several major regions, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Among the routes are Subedarganj-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Gorakhpur-Bandra Terminus, Gorakhpur-Delhi Jn, Ahmedabad-Bhagalpur, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Prayagraj Jn, Prayagraj Jn-Udhna Jn and Dhanbad-Coimbatore.
Indian Railways carried 67.27 crore passengers in August, compared with 64.43 crore in August 2025. Suburban traffic grew 9.02%, with 38.01 crore passengers travelling during the month.
To meet festival-season demand, the railways operated 144 trips of Rakshabandhan Special trains between August 25 and 31, compared with 48 trips during August 8-14 last year.
The railways said the expansion of passenger and freight infrastructure reflects its focus on improving connectivity, meeting seasonal demand and strengthening its role in the country’s logistics network.
