Indian Railways recorded a 7.1% increase in coal rake dispatches during the first half of FY2026-27, reflecting stronger demand for rail-based coal transportation and efforts to ensure adequate supplies to power plants and industrial consumers.
The growth highlights the importance of railway infrastructure in transporting coal from mining regions to thermal power stations and other major consuming centres. Railways remain a key link in India’s coal supply chain, supporting bulk movement over long distances.
The increase in dispatches comes amid closer coordination between the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Coal, coal producers and power utilities to maintain steady supplies and manage inventory levels at thermal power plants.
According to the Ministry of Railways, coal movement has remained an important contributor to overall freight performance. In September 2026, coal loading increased by 9% year-on-year, while the average number of coal rakes supplied daily to power plants rose to 443 from 397 a year earlier, an increase of 11.6%.
Across all commodities, Indian Railways handled 833.7 million tonnes of freight during April–September 2026, registering growth of 4.1% compared with the corresponding period last year. Freight revenue increased by 3.7% during the same period.
Higher coal rake dispatches can help improve the movement of fuel to power stations, reduce supply bottlenecks and support uninterrupted electricity generation. The performance also underscores the role of rail freight in meeting India’s growing energy and industrial transportation requirements.