Despite global challenges and the prevailing geopolitical situation in West Asia, Indian Railways has demonstrated a remarkable performance by transporting 145 million tonnes of freight in May 2026. This represents an increase of 1.3 percent compared to May 2025. According to the Railways, the transportation of iron ore, steel, fertilizers, and other commodities contributed significantly to this growth.
According to railway statistics, freight movement in the “other commodities” category rose by 16 percent, while the transportation of iron ore recorded an increase of 4.8 percent, and that of pig iron and finished steel saw a growth of 3.5 percent. The transportation of fertilizers also grew by 6.2 percent, helping to ensure essential supplies for the agricultural sector.
To maintain the country’s energy security, the Railways prioritized the transportation of coal. Coal, which constitutes the largest share of the Railways’ total freight volume, also recorded an increase of approximately 1 percent in its transportation.
Indian Railways also maintained a strong performance on the passenger transport front. In May 2026, the Railways transported over 610 million passengers to their destinations, whereas this figure stood at approximately 590 million during the same period the previous year. In the non-suburban category, the number of passengers rose from 280 million to 300 million, reflecting a growth of 7.4 percent.
In view of the increased travel demand during the summer holidays, the Railways operated a large number of “Summer Special” trains across various routes. Concurrently, the expansion of modern rail services continues. Currently, 164 Vande Bharat trains are operational across the country, including the recently launched Howrah-Kamakhya Sleeper Vande Bharat service. Meanwhile, the number of Amrit Bharat trains has risen to 68, with three new services being launched during the month of May.
The Ministry of Railways states that the consistent growth observed in both the freight and passenger transport sectors underscores the capabilities of Indian Railways and its pivotal role in the nation’s economy.
