Title - South Eastern Railway reports 2.34% growth in freight loading in April-September 2012

KOLKATA: South Eastern Railway (SER) has recorded growth in freight loading and passenger traffic in the first six months (April-September) of the current financial year 2012-13. SER, which transports bulk of the raw materials materials like coal and iron ore used by the steel industry, showed a 2.34% rise in freight loading during the first half of the current fiscal 2012-13.

During April-September 2012, SER loaded 61.24 million tonnes as against 59.84 million tonnes loaded during the corresponding period of last year. During the period under review, the number of wagons loaded by SER went up by 10.76% to 50,660 as against 45,740 wagons loaded during corresponding period of last year, thus recording an increase of 4,920 wagons.

During the above period under review, SER carried 136.74 million passengers as against 129.00 million passengers carried during the corresponding period of last year, thus registering a growth of 6%. Out of a total of 136.74 million passengers, 73.53 million were non-suburban passengers while 63.21 million were suburban passengers.

Earnings from passenger traffic recorded a jump of 13.47% during the first six months of current financial year in comparison to the corresponding period of last year. During April to September of 2012-13, SER earned Rs.623.66 crores from passenger traffic as against Rs.549.63 crores earned during the same period last year