Indian Railways has strengthened its freight logistics network through expanded terminal infrastructure, dedicated freight corridors, private investment in wagons, faster cargo services and better first- and last-mile connectivity. Freight loading has climbed steadily as a result, from 1,098 million tonnes (MT) in 2014-15 to 1,670 MT in 2025-26. The push behind all this is straightforward: better freight efficiency, stronger regional connectivity, and a bigger share of India’s freight moving by rail.
More terminals, more capacity
Railways has taken a two-pronged approach to freight terminals: building modern ones under the Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) policy, and upgrading infrastructure at railway-owned goods sheds already in operation.
The GCT policy leans on private investment, with terminal locations chosen based on industrial demand, cargo potential, existing railway infrastructure and the region’s broader logistics potential. So far, 142 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals have been commissioned, together capable of handling 224 million tonnes per annum. They’ve drawn roughly ₹10,000 crore in private investment and moved 146 MT of freight in 2025-26 alone.
Private wagons enter the picture
Several schemes now encourage private investment in freight wagons, including specialized ones built for cement, oil, steel and fly ash. About 275 rakes of special-purpose wagons and 397 rakes of general-purpose wagons are currently running, aimed at boosting rail transport of bulk goods like cement, fly ash, steel, iron ore and coal. A separate scheme covers automobile transport, under which around 54 industry-owned rakes now operate.
Cargo moves faster and more flexibly
The Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service (JPP-RCS) offers customized logistics, including door-to-door parcel delivery. Customers can also book parcel space online, either through India Post or through aggregators on the Virtual Aggregation Platform (VAP). CONCOR, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, runs its own door-to-door JPP-RCS service on the Delhi-Kolkata and Mumbai-Kolkata routes, and is piloting a similar door-to-door logistics service at Sonik Goods Shed.
Track expansion picks up speed
Network expansion has accelerated sharply over the past twelve years. Between 2009 and 2014, Railways commissioned 7,599 km of new track, averaging 4.2 km a day. From 2014 to 2026, that jumped to 36,429 km, at an average of 8.32 km a day, nearly double the earlier pace.
As of April 1, 2026, Railways had 514 sanctioned infrastructure projects underway, covering roughly 40,000 km at an estimated cost of ₹8.31 lakh crore. This includes 169 new-line projects, 29 gauge-conversion projects and 316 doubling projects. By March 2026, 12,583 km had been commissioned across these categories, with total spending reaching ₹3,05,253 crore.
Dedicated corridors change the freight equation
Both of Railways’ Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) are now fully commissioned: the Eastern DFC, running 1,337 km from Ludhiana to Sonnagar, and the Western DFC, covering 1,506 km between Dadri and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal. Together they now handle an average of 443 trains a day.
The corridors have brought higher average speeds, faster turnarounds and more reliability, while shifting freight off conventional routes and freeing up capacity for additional passenger and goods services elsewhere on the network. They’re also enabling more double-stack container trains and higher-axle-load trains, improving the link between northern India and western ports, and are expected to support new terminals and industrial connections along their length.
The Union Budget 2026 announced a further DFC connecting Dankuni in the east to Surat in the west, and work on the Detailed Project Report for that corridor is already underway.
Key Takeaway: Freight loading hit 1,670 MT in 2025-26, nearly double what it was a decade earlier, making Indian Railways the world’s second-largest freight-carrying railway system, per government figures. Dedicated corridors, expanded infrastructure, private capital, modern terminals and faster logistics services are together reshaping how freight moves across the country.
This information was provided by Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw in a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
MCQ’s:
1. Which of the following correctly matches the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) with its route?
A. Eastern DFC – Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT)
B. Western DFC – Ludhiana to Sonnagar
C. Western DFC – Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT)
D. Eastern DFC – Dankuni to Surat
2. The Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal (GCT) Policy primarily aims to:
A. Expand high-speed passenger rail services.
B. Promote private investment in modern rail freight terminals and improve cargo handling capacity.
C. Develop metro rail systems in Tier-II cities.
D. Electrify all railway routes in India.\
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