ArmInfo. Director General of CJSC South Caucasus Railway Alexey Melnikov at a conference call on March 2 summed up the results of the railway's operation in February 2020. This was reported by the press service of SCR. According to the head of the Company, during the reporting period, 219.4 thousand tons of cargo was transported, which is 0.5% higher than last year; SCR services were used by 26.4 thousand passengers (an increase of 8.4%). At the same time, passenger traffic in international traffic compared with February 2019 increased by 30%, in local - by 7.6%. At the same time, taking into account the current external economic situation, freight turnover declined (0.2%versus the level of the previous year), export transportation (23.5% versus the level of February 2019) somewhat decreased amid the growth of local transportation (by 13%).
Such quality indicators of the railway work as, in particular, local and technical speeds, average train weight, average daily productivity and locomotive mileage, freight car performance and turnover have also improved. According to the data provided by the CEO, the average monthly salary in the Company amounted to 251 thousand drams, having increased by 24% year on year, while the growth of labor productivity amounted to about 1%. The South Caucasus Railway is carrying out all necessary measures and work to improve traffic safety and upgrade infrastructure: in particular, the process of laying sleepers has already begun, the necessary repairs of the contact network, traction transformers, and the improvement of automation, telemechanics and communications devices are being carried out.
"In 2020, under the SCR investment program, it is planned to invest more than 4.4 billion drams, of which more than 1.8 billion will be spent on upgrading the railway infrastructure, and 2.5 billion drams on updating rolling stock," the General Director of the Company emphasized. Speaking about future tasks, Alexey Melnikov noted the need for comprehensive monitoring in all areas of the Company's activities, building the most efficient planning system based on real traffic volumes, balancing budget items, attracting new volumes of freight and passenger traffic to the railway. One of the priority areas, the head of SCR called the improvement of train safety systems and labor protection, sanitary conditions at workplaces. The last point is of particular importance in light of the appearance in Armenia of the first confirmed case of coronavirus. In this regard, the head of the railway instructed to form a special headquarters, carry out detailed informing of employees, provide all employees associated with the transportation of passengers with additional protective equipment, sets of detergents and disinfectants. These measures are aimed at preventing morbidity among employees of the Company.
<Soon, the holidays will begin in the schools, and we must also conduct expalantory work with children, explain to them the danger of the railway, that any games near it are unacceptable. A special work is to be carried out together with local authorities to inform residents of cities and villages on the maintenance of right of way near the railway, where we are now seeing clutter, unauthorized buildings and vegetable gardens. The issue of cattle grazing near railway tracks is also an acute issue, which poses a danger to both animals and railway transport>, the General Director of the Company emphasized.
It should be noted that South Caucasus Railway CJSC is a 100% subsidiary of Russian Railways OJSC and carries out concession management of Armenian railways. The railway infrastructure of Armenia was transferred to the concession management of SCR CJSC in accordance with the Concession Agreement signed on February 13, 2008. The concession management period is 30 years with the right to extend for another 10 years.
