OREANDA-NEWS. May 16, 2012. Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways, held a conference call, during which he summarised the Company’s performance during the first 4 months of 2012, reported the press-centre of RZD.

According to Yakunin, during January to April 2012, the Company increased its daily loading volume by 2.9% compared to the same period in 2011.

The best performance since the beginning of the year was in oil shipments, which increased by 3.8%, cement (+9%), construction materials (+20.7%) and grain, which rose by a factor of 1.6 times.

"I’d also like to note separately a positive trend in container shipments, which since the beginning of the year have risen by almost 16%. These are very good results, and they are in line with the decisions of the Board of Directors on the concept for the long-term development of the container business," said Vladimir Yakunin.

According to the Company president, passenger turnover on the infrastructure owned by Russian Railways during the first 4 months of 2012 increased by 4.8% compared to the same period in 2011, with long-distance passenger turnover up by 3%, while suburban commuter turnover rose by 11%.

In April, the Company began summer work on the railway lines and tracks. According to Yakunin, as of 1 May 2012, work on reconstruction and major repairs had been carried out on 1,142 kilometres of track.