RZD reduces growth forecast for freight handling on Russia's railways in 2011 to 4%
MOSCOW. Aug 11 (Interfax) - OJSC Russian Railways (RZD) has reduced its growth forecast for freight transport on Russia's railways to 4% for 2011, the company's president, Vladimir Yakunin, said at a select meeting concerning the company's results for the first seven months of this year, which was broadcast by the company's corporate TV service.
"The plan for freight was met in July. Around 713.7 million tonnes of cargo was loaded in January-July. The growth rate for hauling in comparison with same period of last year came to 3.7%, which is just below our plan for 4% [growth] in annual terms," he said.
Yakunin cited this figure at a press conference last Friday. In March, he told journalists the RZD had revised its growth forecast for cargo hauling for this year, raising it from 3.2% to over 5%.