Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120350780500.htm

Back Freight charges for coal, cement up

New Delhi, Dec. 2

Moving cement and coal by rail will be expensive by about 7.1 per cent from December 8. Indian Railways has raised the freight classification for movement of cement, coal and coke to 150 from 140. The Railways recorded a marginal dip in freight loadings in October 2008 with 66.08 million tonnes (mt) of cargo against 66.17 mt in October 2007. The reduction was primarily on account of drop in iron ore traffic, and no significant growth in cement and steel loadings, said offi cial sources. However, Railways had seen robust demand in coal during the month, which accounts for about 42 per cent of Railways’ total freight business.

— Our Bureau