The Railways has rationalised coal tariff by reducing the rate for long-distance transportation and increasing it for short distance while imposing Rs 110 per ton coal terminal surcharge at loading and unloading for distance beyond 100 km. “We have rationalised the rate by changing the distance slabs for coal transportation after discussing it with the Coal Ministry. The new coal loading rate will be less by 4 per cent to 13 per cent for coal transportation beyond 700 km,” Railway Board Member (Traffic) Mohd Jamshed said. He said the rate has been hiked by 7 per cent to 13 per cent for transportation between 200 km and 700 km. There will be no change for transportation up to 200 km. As per the new rate, coal loading would cost Rs 712 per ton for transportation up to 497 km now as against Rs 702. It will be Rs 2,138 per ton for 1,807 km transportation now as against the existing rate of Rs 2,348.