Strong Growth in Steel, Iron Ore and Fertilizer Traffic Helps Railways Earn Freight Revenue of ₹14,571 Crore in February

• Indian Railways (IR) logged ₹14,571 crore freight revenue in February 2026 on the back of a 3.96% YoY rise in freight loading to 137.72 MT.
• Key UPSC angle: IR is India's largest commercial freight carrier and a barometer of core-sector demand (coal, steel, iron ore, cement, fertiliser) — directly relevant to GS-III infrastructure & economy.
• Cumulative 11-month FY26 figures: 1,503.8 MT loading and ~₹1.61 lakh crore revenue.