NE BUSINESS BUREAU
CHENNAI, APR 4
The Southern Railway has delivered a standout financial and operational performance in FY 2025–26, registering robust growth across passenger, freight, and non-fare segments, while comfortably exceeding multiple Railway Board targets.
- Passenger volumes hit record 7,676 lakh, surpassing annual benchmarks
- Earnings climb to ₹8,269 crore, marking strong double-digit momentum
- Ticket checking revenue peaks with 30% surge and early target achievement
- Freight & parcel segments maintain steady growth above projections
- Non-fare innovations propel 22% jump in sundry revenue streams
Passenger Business: Scaling New Highs
Southern Railway achieved a record 7,676.44 lakh originating passengers, reflecting:
- 4.9% growth over last year (7,318.62 lakh)
- 0.7% above the target of 7,625.80 lakh
Passenger revenue surged to ₹8,269.09 crore, marking:
- 9.7% year-on-year growth
- 1.8% higher than the target of ₹8,119.32 crore
This performance was driven by:
- Operation of special trains during peak demand
- PRS modifications for Vande Bharat trains, enabling last-minute bookings
- Addition of 294 General Second Class coaches across 198 trains
- Strong growth in Tatkal and suburban segments (5.2%)
Ticket Checking: Record-Breaking Efficiency
In a major milestone, the zone recorded its highest-ever ticket checking revenue of ₹160.75 crore, registering:
- 30.93% growth over last year (₹129.82 crore)
- Annual target of ₹142.81 crore achieved within 11 months
Notably, 100% implementation of Hand Held Terminals (HHTs) across trains significantly improved transparency and operational efficiency.
Freight & Parcel: Consistent Contributors
Freight performance remained steady:
- 42.113 Million Tonnes loaded
- 1.1% growth year-on-year
Freight revenue stood at ₹3,841.11 crore:
- 0.9% growth over last year
- Exceeded target by 0.4%
Parcel segment performance:
- Revenue at ₹168.64 crore
- 5.38% above target
- 0.4% growth YoY
Non-Fare Revenue: Innovation Pays Off
Southern Railway’s diversification strategy yielded strong results:
- Total Sundry Revenue: ₹305.47 crore
- 22.34% growth YoY
- Exceeded target (₹274.73 crore)
Non-Fare Revenue (NFR): ₹73.68 crore
10.42% growth, driven by:
- Multilevel parking facilities (Chennai Egmore, Alwaye)
- Rail coach restaurants
- Sports turf initiatives (Velachery)
- Onboard magazine distribution
Catering & Parking Segments
- Catering: ₹128.12 crore
- Parking: ₹81.5 crore
- Strengthened by premium outlets and digitised systems
Strategic Momentum Ahead
Through capacity augmentation, digital upgrades, and revenue diversification, Southern Railway has reinforced its position as a high-performing zone within Indian Railways, balancing growth, efficiency, and passenger-centric innovation.