Eastern Railway (ER) has achieved an impressive milestone in freight transportation, reaching a record-breaking freight loading of 54.888 million tonnes from April to October in the current 2024-25 fiscal year. This represents a robust 22.4 per cent increase over the 44.843 million tonnes loaded during the same period last year.
According to an official statement released on Wednesday, this achievement has translated into a substantial boost in freight revenue. ER’s earnings from freight surged by 30.68 per cent, totaling Rs 5,102.46 crore as compared to Rs 3,904.34 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
This revenue growth reflects Eastern Railway’s strategic focus on optimising operations and enhancing freight service performance, which have proven instrumental in capturing a larger share of the logistics market.
A significant portion of this freight growth can be attributed to coal transportation, which contributed 38.947 million tonnes to the total freight loading during the April to October period. Coal remains a key freight segment for Eastern Railway, driven by consistent demand from industries such as power generation, steel production, and other energy-intensive sectors.
This strong performance in coal loading reflects Eastern Railway’s commitment to supporting the nation’s energy and industrial sectors by ensuring reliable and efficient transportation. Alongside coal, other key commodities, including iron ore, cement, and various goods for domestic and export purposes, also contributed to the overall increase in freight loading.