Eastern Railway sets new record, carries nearly 55 million tons freight in first half of FY24-25

Eastern Railway has achieved a record freight loading of 54.888 million tons during the first half of fiscal year 2024-25, representing a significant 22.4% increase compared to 44.843 million tons handled in the same period of the previous fiscal year. This milestone is a result of continued efforts to enhance operational capacity and improve freight services. The railway has focused on increasing the efficiency of its infrastructure, optimizing logistics, and expanding freight handling capacity, which has directly contributed to the rise in cargo volumes.

The revenue generated from freight loading has also seen a remarkable rise. In the first half of 2024-25, Eastern Railway earned Rs. 5102.464 crores from freight services, marking a 30.68% increase from the Rs. 3904.344 crores earned during the same period in 2023-24. This surge in revenue is directly linked to the rise in freight volumes, particularly the increase in bulk commodities like coal. In addition, Eastern Railway’s overall freight tonnage has been consistently higher across various sectors, further driving up revenue generation.

Coal remains the primary contributor to Eastern Railway’s freight performance. Coal loading surged by 33.258%, with 38.947 million tons of coal transported between April and October 2024, up from 27.726 million tons during the same period last year. Coal continues to dominate as the largest bulk freight commodity, accounting for nearly 71% of the total freight volume for the period. This is a crucial factor, as coal is a major resource for energy production and industries across the country, highlighting Eastern Railway’s essential role in supporting the nation’s energy and industrial demands.

Other key freight categories also experienced growth. Cement, fertilizers, food grains, and steel accounted for a combined 15% of the total freight loading, with cement and fertilizers seeing substantial increases due to demand from the construction and agricultural sectors. Eastern Railway has continued to focus on improving the movement of essential goods like these, which are crucial to the country’s infrastructure and agricultural growth. The increase in multi-sectoral freight transport indicates the railway's strategic efforts to support the diverse needs of the Indian economy, making it a key player in the country's logistics network.

Eastern Railway’s operational improvements, including better utilization of existing track capacity, enhanced freight handling infrastructure, and integration of new technologies, have played a significant role in managing this surge in freight volumes. The railway’s modernized freight handling systems and focus on reducing transit times have contributed to its success in meeting increasing freight demands. Looking ahead, Eastern Railway plans to continue expanding its freight network, further enhancing its infrastructure to accommodate higher volumes of cargo, and improving the efficiency of freight services to support India’s growing industrial and energy needs.