Railway freight traffic up 2.82 per cent in April-May

Indian Railways has carried 141.64 million tonnes of revenue earning freight traffic during April-May 2009 - an increase of 3.91 million tonnes (or 2.84 per cent) over the freight traffic of 137.73 million tonnes actually carried during the corresponding period last year.

During May 2009, the revenue earning freight traffic carried by the Railways stood at 71.73 million tonnes, up 1.78 million tonnes (or 2.54 per cent) from the actual freight traffic of 69.95 million tonnes carried by the Railways during the same period last year.

The Railways generated Rs9,215.20 crore of revenue earnings from freight traffic during April-May 2009 as compared to Rs8,996.29 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 2.43 per cent.

Railways carried 141.55 million tonnes of freight traffic during April-May 2009 as compared to 137.37 million tonnes carried during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 2.77 per cent. The net tonne kilometre (NTKM) went up from 89,334 million during April-May 2008 to 92,556 million during April-May 2009, showing an increase of 3.61 per cent.

Out of the total earnings of Rs4,642.03 crore from freight traffic during May 2009, Rs1,852.85 crore came from transportation of 32.51 million tonnes of coal, followed by Rs640.84 crore from 10.10 million tonnes of iron ore for exports, steel plants and for other domestic users, Rs432.50 crore from 7.81 million tonnes of cement, Rs236.71 crore from 2.55 million tonnes of foodgrains, Rs276.53 crore from 3.18 million tonnes of petroleum oil and lubricant (POL), Rs293.64 crore from 2.62 million tonnes of pig iron and finished steel from steel plants and other points, Rs258.84 crore from 3.56 million tonnes of fertilisers, Rs70.53 crore from 0.94 million tonnes of raw material for steel plants except iron ore, Rs230.82 crore from 2.86 million tonnes by container service and Rs348.77 crore from 5.53 million tonnes of other goods.
 
The total earnings of the Railways on an originating basis stood at Rs2,266.81 crore during the 10 days from 1 June to 10 June 2009, compared to Rs2,053.21 crore during the same period last year, registering an increase of 10.40 per cent.

Total goods earnings have gone up to Rs1,521.76 crore during 1 June to 10 June 2009, from Rs1,410.19 crore during 1-10 June 2008, showing an increase of 7.91 per cent. Total passenger revenue earnings during the period 1 June to 10 June 2009 were Rs670.47 crore compared to Rs569.57 crore during the same period last year, reflecting an increase of 17.72 per cent.

Revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to Rs58.69 crore during this period compared to Rs50.17 crore during the same period last year, showing a decrease of 7.91 per cent.

The approximate total number of passengers booked during the period 1 to 10 June 2009 were 216.17 million compared to 196.87 million during the same period last year, showing an increase of 9.80 per cent.

In the suburban and non-suburban sectors, the number of passengers booked during 1 to 10 June 2009 were 111.93 million and 104.24 million compared to 107.74 million and 89.13 million during the same period last year, an increase of 3.89 per cent and 16.95 per cent respectively.