57.
Accidents The following accidents occurred during the year :-
1974/75
1975/76
Trespassers injured by trains
6
4
Trespassers killed by trains
9
8
Passengers injured by trains .......
24
18
Passengers killed by trains
1
2
Staff injured on duty
9
7
The number of injuries and fatalities continues to give cause for concern and consideration is being given to fencing extensive sections of the railway. Power operated doors on carriages would be a significant contributor to improved safety but can only be satisfactorily introduced with electrification. In the meantime the introduction of a public address system in coaches should help the Guard give guidance to passengers who expose themselves to danger.
Derailments :
(a) Chinese Section goods wagons
(b)
Passenger coaches
(c)
Locomotives
Collisions :
1974/75
3
2
NWI
1975/76
2
217
58.
Passenger coach with buffer stop.
Passenger train with a lorry
Brake van with buffer stop
Point lock damaged by locomotive ....
1
1
1
1
All traffic was suspended on 14th October, 1975 from 13:23 hours to 20:09 hours when typhoon Elsie came close to Hong Kong. Normal services resumed immediately afterwards.
FINANCE
59.
Operating expenditure increased by 6.4% from $21,899,558 to $23,298,218 due mainly to the introduction of additional passenger services, the rise in the cost of materials and the higher cost of maintaining the new terminal at Hung Hom. The gross operating profit, however, improved from $6,979,957 to $12,221,977 whilst the net profit was $11,740,288 compared with $5,595,138 in the previous year. Accumulated Funds, exclu- ding interest, increased to $60,606,127 at the end of the year. The percentage of net profit to gross revenue was 30.37 compared with 18.2 in 1974/75.
60.
The larger net profit is chiefly attributable to :
(a)
the increased imports from China, especially of diesel oil, and an upward revision of freight charges by 33% with effect from 1st April, 1975.
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