NEW DELHI, April 3 -- Northern Railway recorded its highest-ever freight loading, expanded key infrastructure, and strengthened passenger services and safety during the financial year 2025-26, General Manager Rajesh Kumar Pandey said at a press conference at Baroda House on Friday.

Highlighting the zone's performance, Pandey said Northern Railway achieved a record annual originating freight loading of 52.26 million tonnes, including a single-day peak of 119 rakes on March 31.

Logistics operations were enhanced with the introduction of scheduled "Cargo Service" routes such as Annapurna and Niryat, reducing transit time for foodgrains and export containers. In a first for the Kashmir Valley, 14,869 tonnes of apples were dispatched via rail.

On the passenger front, 35 pairs of new trains were introduced, including eight Vande Bharat and 14 Amrit Bharat Express services. To manage peak travel demand, over 5,000 special trains were operated during festivals and emergencies.

A major infrastructure milestone was the commissioning of the New Yamuna Bridge in late March 2026. The zone also operationalised the 29.55-km Deoband-Roorkee line and completed several bridges and station upgrades.

Safety and technology remained a key focus, with mechanical signalling eliminated across all passenger yards and 52 level crossing gates interlocked. Kavach was deployed over 38 route kilometres, while automatic signalling covered 63.9 km. CCTV cameras were installed at 321 stations to enhance security.

Financially, Northern Railway reported total earnings of Rs 12,006.73 crore, supported by a 32.65 per cent rise in non-fare revenue and increased digital ticketing through the RailOne app.

The Railway Protection Force intensified enforcement, arresting 528 criminals, rescuing over 2,000 children, and recovering lost property worth crores. Pandey credited the workforce for the achievements and reaffirmed Northern Railway's commitment to building a modern, efficient and self-reliant

transport system.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.