Indian Railways recorded strong growth in both freight movement 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 during August, up from 130.9 million tonnes in August 2025. Freight revenue also increased 6.27% year-on-year, indicating continued momentum in the freight business.
At the passenger end, Indian Railways carried 67.27 crore passengers during the month compared with 64.43 crore passengers a year earlier.
Freight loading gains momentum
The 5.4% increase in freight loading was supported by higher movement of several key commodities, including coal, iron ore, steel, fertilizers and containers.
Iron ore loading increased 12.1% year-on-year in August, while clinker loading rose 10.4%. Domestic container loading grew 9.2% and coal loading increased 6%.
Finished steel loading recorded 4.9% growth, while mineral oil and fertilizers rose 3.1% and 1.6%, respectively. Loading of balance other goods increased 8.2%.
The increase in freight movement points to sustained demand from industrial sectors and strengthens the role of railways in transporting essential raw materials, intermediate goods and finished products across regions.
Higher container movement also indicates greater use of rail-based logistics for the movement of a wider range of goods.
Gati Shakti terminals expand freight network
Indian Railways commissioned five new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals (GCTs) during August, taking the cumulative number of commissioned terminals to 149 as of August 31, 2026.
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 expansion of the GCT network is aimed at bringing rail freight-handling facilities closer to production and consumption centres. This can enable more direct handling of goods, improve evacuation and reduce avoidable movement in the logistics chain.
For industries, wider access to cargo terminals can also strengthen the integration of rail transportation with the broader logistics network.
14 Amrit Bharat services regularised
Passenger connectivity received a boost in August, with 14 Amrit Bharat services being regularised from special trains to regular services.
The move took the total number of Amrit Bharat services to 86.
The services include Subedarganj-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Gorakhpur-Bandra Terminus, Gorakhpur-Delhi Jn, Ahmedabad-Bhagalpur, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Prayagraj Jn, Prayagraj Jn-Udhna Jn and Dhanbad-Coimbatore, among others.
The expanded network provides additional long-distance travel options connecting major cities with regional and industrial centres.
The Gorakhpur-Bandra Terminus and Gorakhpur-Delhi services, for instance, strengthen connectivity between eastern Uttar Pradesh and two major metropolitan regions. The Ahmedabad-Bhagalpur service provides another direct rail link between Gujarat and Bihar, while the Dhanbad-Coimbatore service connects eastern and southern India.
The Prayagraj-Udhna and Prayagraj-Mumbai connectivity also adds travel options for passengers travelling from Uttar Pradesh towards western India.
Passenger traffic rises
Overall passenger traffic increased to 67.27 crore in August 2026 from 64.43 crore in August 2025.
Suburban traffic recorded a sharper increase, with 38.01 crore passengers using suburban services during August compared with 34.89 crore a year earlier, representing 9.02% growth.
The growth highlights the continuing importance of railways for daily mobility, particularly in densely populated urban and suburban areas where rail services carry large passenger volumes.
More special trains for festival demand
Indian Railways also significantly increased special train operations to meet festival-season demand.
It operated 144 trips of Rakshabandhan Special trains between August 25 and 31, 2026, compared with 48 trips between August 8 and 14, 2025.
The threefold increase in special train trips provided additional capacity during a period of high passenger demand, particularly for people travelling to their hometowns and families.
The additional services were intended to ease pressure on regular trains and provide more travel options during the festival rush.
Railways strengthens passenger and freight capacity
The August performance reflects a two-track expansion of Indian Railways, with increased passenger capacity being accompanied by continued investment in freight infrastructure.
The regularisation of Amrit Bharat services expands affordable long-distance connectivity, while additional festival trains help address seasonal spikes in demand. On the freight side, higher loading and the commissioning of new Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals are strengthening rail access for industries and improving the movement of commodities.
With freight loading, passenger traffic and cargo infrastructure all showing growth, Indian Railways is increasingly positioned as a critical component of India’s passenger mobility and industrial logistics network.