China's railway system transported 1.93 tons of cargo nationwide in the first seven months of this year, up 6.8 percent from the same period last year, said the National Development and Reform Commission on Tuesday.

According to the commission, the amount of coal transported as a key resource rose by 10.7 percent. Railways also moved 855 million passengers during the January-July period, up 12.6 percent year-on-year.

The State railways moved 1.62 tons of cargo and 845 million passengers in the first seven months, up 6.3 percent and 12.6 percent from the previous year respectively. It moved 782 million tons of coal, up 9.7 percent year-on-year.

In July, the cargo volume transported by the railway amounted to 280 million tons nationwide, up 4 percent year-on-year, and passengers by rail totaled 137.94 million, up 9.1 percent year-on-year.

For the State railways, it moved 237 million tons of cargo and 136.43 million passengers in July, up 5.4 percent and 9 percent respectively. The amount of coal, oil, grain, cotton and fertilizer and pesticide moved by the State railways in July increased by 5.3 percent, 3.6 percent, 62.3 percent and 3 percent respectively.

(Chinadaily.com.cn September 5, 2008)