Carrying a record freight of approximately 53.25 million tons during the fiscal year 2013-14, Northern Railway has notched incremental growth of over five million tonnes over the previous fiscal year (48.01 million tonnes) marking 11 per cent growth in freight loading which is the highest growth achieved in a financial year.
Northern Railway continues to retain the first position amongst all the zonal railways in terms of originating earnings which has marked nearly Rs 16,000 crore for 2013-14, compared with Rs 14,289 crore last year registering an unprecedented growth of 16 per cent. The share of freight earnings increased to Rs 7,300 crore approx during 2013-14 which would be over Rs 1,000 crore over last year. All the three major commodities have recorded significant growth — food grain loading to various destinations in India increased by 21 per cent, POl products loading went up by 18 per cent and the loading of containerised cargo primarily meant for ports from North India went up by eight per cent during 2013-14.
Focussed marketing strategies were pursued to achieve this goal and effective management of rolling stock enabled availability of required wagons for loading of food grains, POl, containers, cement and other general goods. This growth was secured despite strike by FCI workers during the months of November, December and January. To measure to up to its targetted goals, Northern Railway increased loading of timber, tractors, miscellaneous goods, motor cycles and D-oiled cake thus enhancing its freight performance.
Northern Railway has also marked an eventful year in the passenger segment. The punctuality of mail/express trains, despite the constraint of operating trains safely during the foggy weather, also touched a record 87 per cent for the year 2013-14 against 79 per cent achieved during 2012-13. Northern Railway also operated record number of special trains during the summer rush, pooja rush and Holi rush period in 2013-14.