India has overtaken the United States and Russia to become the second-largest rail freight carrier in the world by volume, transporting 1.6 billion metric tonnes of goods in the 2024–25 financial year, according to a report by Swarajya.
This milestone reflects the rapid expansion and near-completion of the country’s Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) — a transformative network of high-capacity, fully electrified lines designed exclusively for freight. The DFCs currently handle between 300 and 325 freight trains per day, enabling faster, more efficient, and congestion-free operations compared with mixed-traffic routes.
A new backbone for India’s logistics network
The DFC network now covers over 2,800 km, comprising two main routes:
- The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), connecting Ludhiana in Punjab to Sonnagar in Bihar.
- The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), linking Mumbai’s JNPT port with Dadri in Uttar Pradesh.
As of August 2025, approximately 2,741 km of the DFC network were operational, with full completion expected by the end of the year.
Freight trains on the DFC operate at average speeds of 50–60 km/h, more than double the 20–25 km/h typical on conventional mixed-use lines. This leap in efficiency has encouraged a steady modal shift from road to rail, particularly for bulk and time-sensitive commodities such as thermal coal.
Supporting industrial growth and regional connectivity
Between 2019 and 2025, Indian Railways’ freight volumes grew from 1.22 to 1.61 billion tonnes, underscoring the role of the DFC programme in driving industrial expansion and sustainable transport. The dedicated corridors now carry over 10 per cent of the nation’s total freight, easing congestion on passenger routes and improving supply chain reliability.
The DFCs also serve as a catalyst for economic development in underdeveloped regions, creating new logistics hubs and industrial clusters along their routes. Their fully electrified infrastructure contributes to India’s decarbonisation and energy-efficiency goals, supporting the government’s broader vision of achieving net zero emissions by 2070.
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