Ceske Drahy post profits for the first half of 2007

The Czech state-owned rail operator, Ceske Drahy, reported a preliminary profit of 30 million CZK (1.5 million USD) for the first half of this year. A spokesperson for the company predicted that Ceske Drahy would make an overall profit this year, for the first time since it became a joint stock company in 2003. This year, passenger numbers have grown by about two percent, while revenue generated by cargo is up seven percent. Ceske Drahy is the fifth biggest cargo transporter in Europe, moving 90 million tonnes of goods each year.