CHINA
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Hunan, to Chuanhsien and Kweilin, in Kwangsi, covers a distance of 380 kilo- metres and is expected to be completed within six months. The bridge over the Siang River at Hengyang, which will connect this line with the Canton-Hankow line, is already under construction.
Following the settlement of the Sian incident, the Ping-Han Railway revert- ed to normal soon after the beginning of 1937. Upon the outbreak of Sino- Japanese hostilities construction of the branch line from Hwayuan to Laohokow was suspended in August.
The opening to traffic of the Sian-Paoki section of the Lung-Hai Railway was originally scheduled to take place on New Year's Day, 1937, but was post- poned until the 1st March. Final surveys were carried out for the extension westward from Paoki to Tienshui, whence extensions of this line, north-west to Lanchow and south to Chengtu, the capital of Szechwan, are contemplated.
The northern section of the Tatung-Puchow Railway is under construction. The first section of the Chekiang-Kiangsi line from Hangchow to Yüshan, 336 kilometres, was completed in 1933; the second section from Yüshan to Nan- chang, 300 kilometres, was opened to traffic in January 1936; and the third section of 263 kilometres to Pinghsiang, where connexion will be made with the Canton-Hankow line, was expected to be completed during 1937 or early in 1938.
Work proceeded rapidly on the extension of the King-Kan (Nanking-Kiang- si) Railway to Kweich'i. Upon completion, it is the intention of the Govern- ment to extend this line via Shaowu and Nanping (Yenp'ing), in Fukien, and thence through Chaoan to Canton.
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The construction of the unfinished section of the Shanghai-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway between Zakow and Hangchow and of the Ch'ient' ang River Bridge would shortly have been completed but for the hostilities, which suspended work and caused a certain amount of damage to the bridge. The rehabilitation of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, with the double-tracking of the section Shang- hai-Soochow, was also contemplated.
Financial arrangements were completed for a loan from the British and Chinese Corporation of £4,000,000 for the construction of a line from Pukow (Nanking) running on the north of the Yangtze River and crossing the Peiping- Hankow Railway to Siangyang, in the province of Hupeh.
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The first stage in the construction of the Chungking-Chengtu Railway was started during the year. The line, on leaving Chungking, will follow a course along the valley of the Upper Yangtze, passing the Maoerhhsia Gorge. At 125 kilometres the line will leave, the Yangtze and turn to the north-west to Yung- chwan, thence following a general westward direction, passing Jungchang, Lungchang, Neikiang, Tzechung, Tzeyang, Kienyang, Chaokiatu, and southward to Chengtu. Many difficulties will have to be overcome in the course of construc- tion. The estimated time for completion is two and a half years, and the length of the line 523 kilometres.
The following are the import statistics for rolling-stock, and for such rail- way materials as are specifically quoted as such in the Returns, during the past three years:
1935.
1937.
Quantity.
1936. Value. Quantity. Vaiuc. St. $
St. S
Quantity. Value
St. $
Crossings and Turntables for
Railways... Quintals
..
Rails
8,396 751,035
243,560 14,859 577,995 8,498,768 965,747 14,871,008–913,341
18,974
693,960
13,60,276
Locomotives & Tenders
3,950,991
14,026,834
6,63,686
Railway Carriages and
Wagous
.....
1,962,725
11,5:1,923
2,744,425
Railway Materials, n.o.r
Railway Sleepers Pieces 3,702,067
3,509,901
4, 43,039
4,643,362
8,524,812 1,757,06%
4,593,053 1,300,895
4,5+7,97+
Total
26,690,757
49,625.852
32,501,674
*12