OREANDA-NEWS. Freight volumes rose by 6,5% in 1Q2007, equivalent to 24,3% of the total planned for the year. High growth rates were recorded in goods vital to the Russian economy: coke (+13,6%), ferrous metals (+12,2%), cement (+39,3%) and grain etc (+12,1%), reported the press-centre of  Russian Railways. The average wage of workers engaged in freight and shipping at the Company increased by 12% compared to the same period last year, while productivity increased by 10,7%.