OREANDA-NEWS. Mechel OAO (MICEX: MTLR, NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, reports signing a new agreement with Russian Railways OAO’s Center of Corporate Transportation Services, including organization of cargo train traffic by reserved routes with fixed arrival and departure times.

The agreement is valid from April 1, 2015 till December 31, 2015. Russian Railways OAO will offer Mechel Group’s railway operator its services on cargo train traffic on approved schedules on the following routes:

  • from Yakutugol Holding Company OAO (part of Mechel Group) to Trade Port Posiet OAO (part of Mechel Group, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan);
  • from Yakutugol Holding Company OAO to Port Vanino OAO (located on the coast of the Tartar Strait);
  • from Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO (part of Mechel Group) to Trade Port Posiet OAO;
  • from Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO to Port Vanino OAO.

According to the prior agreement, which was valid since November 1, 2013 until March 31, 2015, Mecheltrans dispatched some 1,800 cargo trains on fixed schedules. The overall transit time went down by nearly 20% as compared to cargo delivery time norms. The company was also able to transport requisite amounts of coal by a fewer number of wagons, redirecting a part of its wagon park to other production needs.

As Elga Coal Complex continues to develop, the company plans to extend the practice of traffic control using fixed schedules. Cargo trains are planned to be formed at Ulak station which is linked by a direct railway to the Elga deposit.

“In 2014, Mechel’s cargo amounted to 12% of all cargo shipped by Russian Railways using fixed schedules. Mechel is one of Russian Railways’ major clients provided such a service. Today cargo train traffic control on fixed schedules is a key indicator of the quality of railways operation. This technology enables us to efficiently distribute the load on Russian Railways OAO’s infrastructure, streamline the work of our locomotive teams, optimize exploitation costs. This is especially important when making sure that the load on the Baikal-Amur Mainline’s eastern part is distributed evenly, and for the development of the entire Eastern Railway operating domain,” Deputy General Director of the Center of Corporate Transportation Services (Russian Railways OAO’s subsidiary) Sergei Kolesnikov said.

“We have a lot of positive experience in working with Russian Railways’ subsidiaries in routing our shipments and train traffic using pre-approved schedules. In addition to improving our wagon park’s use and decreasing turnover time of our wagons, our delivery of export cargo is guaranteed now to reach sea ports exactly on schedule, which enables us to plan our further logistics more precisely — such as vessel presentation, freight and preparation of port facilities. Together with Russian Railways, we constantly work at various ways to improve traffic management,” Mecheltrans Management Company’s Chief Executive Officer Alexey Lebedev commented.