Indian Railways has set an ambitious target of loading 3,000 MT 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 till March 2," the ministry said.

Freight remains the backbone of Indian Railways, contributing nearly 65 per cent of its revenue and coal, iron ore and cement constitute more than 60 per cent of freight loading and revenue generation through freight operation.

The movements of freight and passenger trains have gone up significantly in the past 11 years, with more than 34,000 km of new railway tracks laid across the country.

With the development of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) on Indian Railways the speed of freight trains has also increased.

The DFC reached a significant milestone in freight train operations during January, marking a new benchmark in India's logistics and transportation efficiency.

According to the Ministry, 391 trains were operated on an average per day on DFC tracks in the first month of 2025. While the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) operated 209 trains per day (average), the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) ran 182 trains per day.

This achievement reflects the increasing reliance on DFC for seamless and efficient freight transportation, reinforcing its role as a backbone for industrial and economic growth, a railway official said.

By successfully diverting 100 per cent of freight traffic from East Central Railway and North Central Railway to EDFC, the freight corridor provided much-needed relief to the adjacent zonal railways and enabled the smooth operation of Mahakumbh Special trains on the saturated routes.

The DFC played a crucial role in supporting the Prayagraj Division during the Maha-Kumbh Mela, ensuring the smooth and efficient movement of both passenger and freight trains.

The locomotive production for Indian Railways has also shot up to meet the increased demand for running more passenger and freight trains. Indian Railways manufactured 1,346 locomotives during 2024-25 until January, registering a rise of more than 9 per cent compared to the 1,235 locomotives produced during 2023-24.