DUSHANBE, September 4, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s Railways has lowered passenger conveyance rates for long-distance trains by 30 percent.
According to information from Tajikistan’s Railways, new rates have taken effect on rail routes from Dushanbe to Moscow, from Kulob to Moscow and from Khujand to Saratov since September 1.
The source says a ticket for seat in the carriage with numbered reserved seats in the train Dushanbe-Moscow now costs 425 Somonis against the previous 535 Somonis. A ticket for travel in compartment on this route comes to 483 Somonis against the previous 577 Somonis.
Tickets for the rail route Dushanbe-Kulob have been lowered from 555 Somonis to 440 Somonis for the carriage with numbered reserved seats, and from К596 Somonis to 498 Somonis for the compartment. Tickets for the route Khujand-Saratov have been lowered from 412 Somonis to 357 Somonis and from 486 Somonis to 446 Somonis respectively.
“Introduction of new rates is connected with reduction in passenger traffic on these routes,” the source said, adding that the introduced rates are “sliding” and change several times a year, depending on the passenger traffic.
According to information from the Tajik State Committee for Statistics, 413,800 have traveled by rail in January-July 2006, which is 7.2 percent more compared to the same period of last year. Of them 134,700 passengers have traveled by long-distance trains, which is 28.4 percent more compared to January-July 2005.
In January-July 2006, incomes made from passenger conveyances have amounted to more than 19.3 million Somonis (equivalent to more than US$5.8 million), which is 7.1 million Somonis more compared to the same period of last year.
