Container, Iron & Steel and Gypsum loading were the engines that hauled Western Railway (WR) to its best ever freight performance in the financial year 2018-19.
According to a note released by WR, loading in 2018-19 was higher by 6.8 million tonnes or 8.9% over the previous financial year at 83.48 million tonnes over 76.68 million tonnes in FY 2017-18.
Earnings
However, total freight earnings by WR in 2018-19 were reported at Rs. 11,217 crores. This is only a slight increase of Rs. 58 crores, or 0.5% over 2017-18 figures of Rs. 11,159 crores. Advance freight earnings from CONCOR increased the total figure for the year to Rs. 11,946 crores.
Container traffic topped the list with 20.34 million tonnes, Iron & Steel 1.19 million tonnes and Gypsum loading of 1.48 million tonnes.
Loading Performance
WR also recorded best ever performance, loading 7,816 wagons in FY 2018-19, according to figures provided by the zone. Average speeds of goods trains over WR are claimed to have increased to 26.6 kilometres per hour. However, the quantum of increase over the previous year was not made clear.
More Long Haul Trains
WR also reported having run 1,090 long haul trains in 2018-19, a sharp increase of over 150% from the 2017-18 figures of 434 trains.
Officials from the zone explain that the performance was a result of “meticulous planning, monitoring and coordination [..] with key customers by conducting regular meetings in order to boost loading performance.”
