6
Total figures are appended below:-
TERMINAL THROUGH TRAFFIC.
No. of Passengers
Revenue
UP
417.353 UP
DOWN
526,644 DOWN
$ 921,918.00 1,066,709.00
TOTAL
943,997 TOTAL
.$1,988,627.00
SECTIONAL THROUGH TRAFFIC.
No. of Passengers
Revenue
UP
DOWN
153,536 UP 160,725
DOWN
$ 246,816.00 262,042.00
TOTAL
314,261
TOTAL Total Revenue
.$
$ 508,858.00
$2,497,485.00
Total Terminal & Sectional-1,258,258
17.
Local passengers conveyed during the eleven months were 596,292; revenue from this source amounting to $530,610.00. Owing to shortage of rolling stock and difficul- ties of maintenance, it was only possible to run a curtailed local service during most of the period, and this affected the number of passengers carried. The service was improved on November 16th and still further improvements were made on March 1st. 1947. There was also intense road competition as numerous lorries operated on the Taipo Road, and although not licensed to carry passengers, most of them did so. Representations were made to Government for a tightening up of control over these lorries and it is hoped that these representations combined with the increased service will result in a rise in revenue. There was also a decrease in the New Territories population in the early months compared with pre-war years, as many who left for free China during the Japanese occupation only returned gradually.
The open-
ing of a road in Chinese Territory from Tamshui to Man Kam To Bridge also affected rail travel as numerous passengers, who prior to the war travelled to Tamshui and Waichow via the Railway to Taipo and thence by launch to Sha U Chung, were diverted to the new Bus Route.
18. Through goods traffic amounted to 184,236 Kilos., revenue earned being $690,053.00. The bulk of this cargo was conveyed on behalf of UNRRA, commercial firms, and Chinese Government Organizations such as the Ministry of Communi- cations and the Canton-Hankow Railway. The amount of goods traffic carried was restricted owing to shortage of wagons and locomotives and non-return of wagons from Chinese Territory where they were used as covered storage. In other cases this non-return was beyond the control of the