The Indian Railways has generated ₹ 86009.27 crore of revenue earnings from commodity-wise freight traffic during April 2014-January 2015 as compared to ₹ 76501.01 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 12.43 per cent. Railways carried 906.36 million tonnes of commodity-wise freight traffic during April 2014-January 2015 as compared to 866.14 million tonnes carried during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 4.64 per cent.

During the month of January 2015, Railways generated ₹ 10023.71 crore as compared to ₹ 8795.90 crore during the same period last year, registering an increase of 13.96 per cent. Out of which, ₹ 4728.91 crore came from transportation of 48.93 million tonnes of coal, followed by ₹ 877.41 crore from 9.95 million tonnes of cement, ₹ 739.06 crore from 10.10 million tonnes of iron ore for exports, steel plants and for other domestic user, ₹ 768.11 crore from 4.82 million tonnes of food grains, ₹ 495.99 crore from 3.55 million tonnes of petroleum oil and lubricant (POL), ₹ 582.31 crore from 3.46 million tonnes of Pig iron and finished steel from steel plants and other points, ₹ 540.27 crore from 4.41 million tonnes of fertilizers, ₹ 190.10 crore from 1.75 million tonnes of raw material for steel plants except iron ore, ₹ 446.05 crore from 4.07 million tonnes by container service and ₹ 655.50 crore from 6.75 million tonnes of other goods.

Freight revenue growth signals increased commodity traffic and tonnage, led by coal and container volumes. Commodity-wise freight revenue increased 12.43% and tonnage carried rose 4.64% during April 2014-January 2015, indicating higher yield per tonne. January 2015 freight receipts rose 13.96% year-on-year, led by coal and container traffic, with detailed commodity-wise tonnage and revenue contributions for cement, iron ore, food grains, POL, steel products, fertilisers and other goods.