Indian Railways is the backbone of India’s logistics infrastructure, operating one of the largest freight networks in the world. It handles massive volumes of essential commodities like coal, iron ore, cement, food grains, and containers. Tracking is managed through a sophisticated, official system called FOIS, which is essential due to the dynamic, non-scheduled nature of freight train operations.

How to Track Your Freight Consignment

Tracking is done exclusively through the official FOIS system. The process is straightforward but requires your specific booking details.

1. What You Need to Track:

• FNR (Freight Number Reference) Number: This is your primary booking reference number, typically in a format like FNR123456.
• Consignment Note Number: This is an alternative number found on your Railway Receipt.

2. Official Tracking Portal:
The only official website for tracking Indian Railways freight is the FOIS (Freight Operations Information System) site.

• Official FOIS Tracking Page: https://fois.indianrail.gov.in/

3. Steps to Track:

• Go to the official FOIS website linked above.
• Look for the “FNR Status” or “Consignment Tracking” section.
• Enter your FNR Number or Consignment Note Number.
• Click “Check Status” or the equivalent button.
• The system will display the current status and location of your consignment.

Important Note: The portal is designed for businesses and regular users. It may require login credentials for full detailed reports, but basic tracking with an FNR number is usually accessible.

Key Details about Indian Railways Freight

• Scale: ~1500 million tonnes of freight annually, with ~6000 freight trains daily.
• Revenue: Freight trains generate about two-thirds of Indian Railways’ revenue.
• Key Commodities: Coal, Iron Ore, Foodgrains, Iron & Steel, Cement, Petroleum products, Fertilizer, and Containers.
• Operation Nature: Freight trains do not run on a fixed passenger-style schedule. Their movement is dynamically optimized based on resource availability and network demand, making the FOIS tracking system critical.

Important Contacts for Support

For issues with the FOIS website or tracking information, you should contact the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), which manages the IT systems for Indian Railways.

1. Web Information Manager

• Name: AMIT KUMAR SHRIVASTAVA
• Organization: CENTRE FOR RAILWAY INFORMATION SYSTEMS (CRIS)
• Address: Chanakya Puri, New Delhi – 110021
• Phone: 011-24104525, 011-24106717
• Fax: 011-26877893
• Email: writetowim[at]cris[dot]org[dot]in (Replace [at] with @ and [dot] with .)

2. Operational Control Centre (OCC/FOIS)

• For technical/operational issues:
• Phone: 011-26116439, 011-24104525 (Extn.231)
• For Indian Railways staff: 54804

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The FAQs provided cover essential topics for anyone booking freight with Indian Railways:

• Booking Process: How to book cargo and select terminals.
• Charges & Fees: Explains Wagon Registration Fee, Siding Charges, and Demurrage (charges for delaying wagon unloading).
• Key Documents: Explains the Electronic Railway Receipt (eT-RR), which is the digital proof of booking and contract.
• Policy & Guidelines: Who to contact to offer traffic and understand freight policy and stacking guidelines.

For detailed answers to these questions, you should visit the official Indian Railways Freight website or contact the commercial department of your local railway division.

In conclusion, tracking Indian Railways freight is a centralized and official process. Always use the official FOIS website and have your FNR number ready. For any technical issues with the portal, the provided contacts for CRIS are the correct points of escalation.