DUSHANBE, February 25, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Passenger traffic on rail routes from Dushanbe to Russian cities has been decreasing since the beginning of this year.

The source at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) said that over the period from January 1 to February 20 this year, passenger traffic on these routes has decreased by 19,500 people.

Decrease in passenger traffic on these routes has resulted in a 10 million somoni decrease in Tajik Railways’ incomes.

The source further added that if the situation did not change for better in the near future the Tajik Railways’ income this year might decrease by 200 million somoni compared to the 2008 level.

At present Tajik Railways offers three routes to the Russian Federation (Dushanbe-Moscow, Kulob-Moscow, Khujand-Saratov) and four domestic routes (Dushanbe-Konibodom, Qurghon Teppa-Konibodom, Dushanbe-Pakhtaobod and Qurghon Teppa-Kulob).