Indian Railways recorded significant growth in both passenger and freight sectors in August 2026. During this period, the railways transported 137.9 million tonnes of freight, marking a 5.4 percent increase compared to the 130.9 million tonnes recorded in August 2025. To meet rising passenger demand, 14 Amrit Bharat services were regularized, while five new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) were launched to strengthen last-mile connectivity for freight transport.
Revenue generated by the railways from freight transport also saw a 6.27 percent increase in August 2026 compared to August 2025. According to the railways, the rise in freight transport reflects sustained demand for transportation across the country’s major industrial regions.
Iron Ore, Coal and Container Freight See Strong Growth
Rail freight movement of several key commodities gained momentum in August. Iron ore freight increased by 12.1%, while Clinker freight rose by 10.4% and Domestic Container freight by 9.2%. Coal freight also recorded a 6% increase. Additionally, the transportation of Finished Steel increased by 4.9 percent, Mineral Oil by 3.1 percent, and Fertilizers by 1.6 percent. An increase of 8.2 percent was recorded in the transportation of other goods.
According to the Railways, increased freight transport in these regions has strengthened industrial supply chains. In particular, the growth in container transport has facilitated the more efficient movement of various types of goods from one location to another via the rail network.
Five New Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals to Strengthen Freight Network
Five new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals were commissioned in August 2026. With this, the total number of GCTs operational in the country reached 149 by August 31.
The newly commissioned terminals
- Shivlakha — Gujarat
- Nalli — Tamil Nadu
- Shaktinagar — Uttar Pradesh
- Deoragram — Madhya Pradesh
- Brajrajnagar — Odisha
The objective of the GCT network is to provide freight handling facilities close to production and consumption centers. This can help reduce unnecessary movement of goods, better manage logistics costs and time, and accelerate the evacuation of goods from industrial areas.
14 Amrit Bharat Services Regularized to Expand Rail Connectivity
On the passenger services front, 14 Amrit Bharat services were upgraded from special trains to regular services in August, bringing the total number of Amrit Bharat services in the country to 86.
These include major services such as Subedarganj–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Gorakhpur–Bandra Terminus, Gorakhpur–Delhi Junction, Ahmedabad–Bhagalpur, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Prayagraj Junction, Prayagraj Junction–Udhna Junction, and Dhanbad–Coimbatore.
According to railway data, 67.27 crore passengers traveled by rail in August 2026, compared to 64.43 crore in August 2025. Strong growth was also recorded in suburban traffic; 38.01 crore suburban passengers traveled in August 2026, which is 9.02 percent higher than the 34.89 crore recorded the previous year.
To meet the additional demand during the festive season, the Railways also increased the operation of special trains on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Between August 25 and 31, 2026, a total of 144 trips of special trains were operated, compared with 48 trips between August 8 and 14, 2025.
The expansion of the Railways’ passenger and freight networks in August reflects its strategy to enhance capacity in line with growing demand. While the Amrit Bharat services have provided long-distance passengers with additional affordable travel options, the new GCTs are expected to strengthen rail-based freight transportation and logistics connectivity for industries.
(PIB)
