Russian railroads increase shipping by 40 Million tonnes in first five months of 2003

Russian railroads shipped a total of 462 million tonnes in the first five months of 2003, said First Deputy Transportation Minister Vadim Morozov in a briefing on June 4. He said this was 40 million more tonnes than for the same period last year.

Morozov also said that profits from suburban trains for the first five months of 2003 reached 455 million roubles or 3.3% more than for the same period last year. Long-distance trains had profits of 45 million roubles or 3.1% more than for the same period last year.

Moreover, he said that 48 additional trains will be brought into service for the busy summer season this year including 'Saratov-Simferopol,' 'Brest-Volgograd,' 'Kizlyar-Sverdlovsk,' 'Moscow-Simferopol,' and 'Moscow-Feodosiya.' An additional 11 trains could also be called into service in the event of delays. Morozov also said that 12 thousand students will work as train attendants this summer. Finally, he said that toward winter 1 thousand new railroad ticket offices will open across Russia.