The railways generated Rs. 42,146.84 crore of revenue earnings from commodity-wise freight traffic during April-December 2009 as compared to Rs. 38,278.55 crore during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 10.11 per cent, the release said.

Railways carried 652.63 million tonnes of commodity-wise freight traffic during April-December 2009 as compared to 606.74 million tonnes carried during the corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 7.56 per cent. The Net Tonne Kilo Metres (NTKM) went up from 3,91,163 million during April-December 2008 to 4,29,728 million during April-December 2009, showing an increase of 9.86 per cent.

Out of the total earnings of Rs. 5,116.35 crore from commodity-wise freight traffic during the month of December 2009, Rs. 2043.24 crore came from transportation of 35.68 million tonnes of coal, followed by Rs. 732.10 crore from 11.58 million tonnes of iron ore for exports, steel plants and for other domestic user.

Rs. 444.99 crore came from 8.03 million tonnes of cement, Rs. 354.77 crore from 3.40 million tonnes of foodgrains, Rs. 272.92 crore from 3.36 million tonnes of petroleum oil and lubricant (POL), Rs. 288.69 crore from 2.58 million tonnes of Pig iron and finished steel from steel plants and other points.

Moreover, Rs. 322.20 crore from 4.18 million tonnes of fertilizers, Rs. 67.95 crore from 0.88 million tonnes of raw material for steel plants except iron ore, Rs. 223.82 crore from 2.83 million tonnes by container service and Rs. 365.67 crore from 5.71 million tonnes of other goods.