MOSCOW, February 15. /TASS/. Freight transportation by rail to China gained 28% year-on-year as of 2022 year-end and totaled 123 mln metric tons, press service of the Russian Railways said on Wednesday.

"In 2022, Russian Railways carried the maximal volume of eastbound cargo throughout the history," the press service said. "Freight transportation in the service with China totaled 123 mln metric tons (+28% against 2021)," the railway operator said.

Freight transportation in direction of the Eastern Range gained 3.3% year-on-year to 276 mln metric tons as of 2022 year-end. Eastbound coal exports by rail had an uptick by 0.5% to 101.1 mln metric tons.

Russian Railways said earlier that plans are in place to expand the throughput capacity of the Eastern Range, comprising Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian Railways.