China's railway sector is shifting its freight transport focus
to agricultural goods during the spring farming period, said
sources with the Chinese Ministry of Railways.
Statistics with the ministry said since February, the railways
have transported 10 million tons of fertilizer for farmers, an
increase of 1.18 million tons year on year.
The ministry said its freight transport sector has also
transported 11.46 million tons of grains and nearly half a million
tons of cotton since February, both exceeding that of the same
period of last year.
The Shanghai Railways Bureau has opened a number of farming
express trains recently.
Officials with the ministry said the railway sector will
continue its low-price policy in transporting agricultural goods in
the future to support the country's strategic plan of building new
socialist countryside.
(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2006)