DUSHANBE , July 26, Asia-Plus -- Experts from the Tajik Railways hold that rising transit tariffs lead to increase in rail fares in Tajikistan rather than rising oil prices.

At present Tajikistan ’s Railways has three rail routes to the Russian Federation : Dushanbe to Moscow (thrice-weekly service); from Kulob to Moscow (twice-weekly service); and from Khujand to Saratov (two-three times a week). 

Inside the republic, there area four rail routes: from Dushanbe to Konibodom (twice-weekly service); from Qurghon Teppa to Konibodom (once-weekly service); from Qurghon Teppa to Kulob (once-weekly service; and from Dushanbe to Pakhataobod.  

Speaking to journalists, The Tajik Railways deputy chief, Vladimir Sobkalov, yesterday noted that the price of ticket for the carriage with numbered reserved seats on the train Dushanbe-Moscow is 538.00 Somonis and the ticket for the compartment on this train is 591 Somonis.  

According to him, during the period from July 1 to August 31 the Tajik Railways offers a 20-Somoni discount for the carriage with numbered reserved seats and a 40-Somoni discount for the compartment.  30%- 35%-discount will  be introduced in September, according to him.  

Mr. Sobkalov also noted that that all issues related to problems of transit tariffs would be considered at the 44 th session of the council of the CIS railways  of the CIS and Baltics, which would be held in Yerevan ( Armenia ) in mid-October.  

NOTICES: A total length of railways in Tajikistan is 950 kilometers, including 680 kilometers of the main railways.  The Tajik rolling stock includes 1,766 goods trucks, 314 passenger carriages, and 57 diesel locomotives.  8,000 people are currently working with the Tajik Railways, and an average monthly wage in the Tajik Railways  is 290.00 Somonis.

In January-June 2006, 6.516 million tons of various cargoes have been shipped by rail transportation (107.7 percent of the January-June 2005 quantity).  373,300 people have traveled by rail over the same six-month period, which 32,500 people compared to the same period of 2005.