Indian Railways loaded 1,465.371 million tonnes (MT) of freight in the financial year 2024-25, a notable increase from the 1,443.166 MT in 2023-24, according to a recent post by the Ministry of Railways on X.
This upward trend highlights the Railways’ consistent progress towards meeting its ambitious target of loading 3,000 MT of freight by 2027.
“Indian Railways is steadily progressing toward its ambitious target of 3,000 MT freight loading, achieving 1,465.371 MT in FY 2024-25,” the ministry stated in its update, marking a significant achievement for the sector.
Infrastructure Growth To Support Expansion
The movement of both freight and passenger trains has increased significantly in the past 11 years.
The Railways has expanded its network by laying over 34,000 km of new tracks across the country, further supporting the surge in freight and passenger traffic.
This infrastructure growth is critical to the sector’s ongoing success and its ability to meet future targets.
In addition to impressive freight growth, Indian Railways has also seen robust production numbers for locomotives, coaches, and axles in FY 2024-25.
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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the sector’s manufacturing achievements up until January 2025.
“The IR has marked steady growth in the manufacturing of coaches, locomotives, wheels, and axles.
During the financial year of 2023-24, 1.98 lakh wheels were manufactured, which has now increased to 2.43 lakh during the financial year of 2024-25, registering an increase of 23%,” Minister Vaishnaw said.
Impressive Increases In Locomotive, Coach, And Axle Production
The growth in locomotive production is equally impressive. In FY 2024-25, Indian Railways produced 1,346 locomotives, a 9% increase from the 1,235 locomotives produced in 2023-24.
Similarly, the manufacturing of coaches surged by 12%, from 5,169 in 2023-24 to 8,805 in 2024-25.
The production of axles also saw a 7% rise, growing from 77,636 units in 2023-24 to 83,275 units in 2024-25.
Empowering Women In The Railway Sector
The ministry also celebrated the five-fold increase in the number of women loco pilots over the past decade. In 2014, there were just 371 women loco pilots, but by 2024, that number had risen to 1,828.
This progress reflects the Indian Railways’ commitment to gender inclusion and empowerment within its workforce.
Indian Railways’ achievements in freight growth, production, and workforce empowerment demonstrate its ability to drive progress and innovation in the transportation sector.
As the network expands and modernizes, the Railways is poised to meet its ambitious goals, contributing significantly to India’s economic growth.
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