SCR summed up 1Q 2013

YEREVAN, April 9. /ARKA/. CEO of South Caucasus Railway (SCR) Viktor Rebets said Monday on a conference call that the company maintained a positive trend in the first quarter of 2013.

For example, the amount of load increased by 11%, compared to the same period last year, while the volume of traffic –by 5.9%.

Among the positive moves Victor Rebets singled out  reducing downtime of transit wagons (from 9 hours to 3.3), reduction of downtime under one cargo operations, the increase of an average daily production of a locomotive and a car.

SCR Head noted in the first quarter the company managed to optimize the freight car fleet, and a similar amount of operation has already been performed by the railroad with fewer cars. The speed increased at the rail as well.

In March 2013, compared with the same period a year ago, the speed increased by 3.1 km/hour, and only in the first quarter—by 3.2 km/hour. This is more than a sufficient indicator taking into account that growth has exceeded by 10%, according to Rebets.

However, he added something should be done with the passenger traffic which dropped at the end of the reported period. Every effort must be made to maintain the position in the transport market and strengthen competitive advantages of the railway, he highlighted.

Rebets also discussed the issues related to  upgrading the infrastructure, improving traffic safety and healthcare, giving appropriate instructions to the responsible persons. South Caucasus Railways, a 100-percent subsidiary of Russian Railways, runs Armenian Railway. Armenian Railways was handed over to the South Caucasus Railways on February 13, 2008 for 30-year concession management with a right to prolong the management term for other 10 years.-—0-