# KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY. (British Section)
# ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1937.
## I.-GENERAL SURVEY.
1. The period under review was marked by vicissitudes. It can be recorded as the most eventful twelve months in the history of the Railway. Abnormal occurrences in chronological order, were a disastrous fire on the Up Through Fast train in January, resulting in the death of 84 persons; a major derailment of the same train twelve days later; record passenger traffic during the Ching Ming festival in April and the Coronation celebrations in May; linking-up of the Canton-Hankow and the Canton-Kowloon Railways in August; the subsequent introduction of a working agreement for through goods traffic between Kowloon and Hankow; use of all available space on the Railway Reclamation at Kowloon for storing cargo originally destined for Shanghai but diverted to Hong Kong owing to Sino-Japanese hostilities; intensive damage to track and the total suspension of traffic for ten days caused by a record typhoon in September; and lastly, the intensive bombing of the Chinese Section of the line from October to December which caused dislocation of traffic, damage to rolling stock and the ultimate cancellation of the through morning and mid-day passenger trains.
2. The year opened with strength and confidence, brighter conditions prevailing due to the improvement in trade. All revenue figures, however, are somewhat vitiated as indices of comparison by two over-riding considerations: firstly, the Sino-Japanese conflict which affected all sources considerably from August, and secondly, the cessation of both Shum Chun Casino traffic and express train haulage which resulted in a loss in earnings, as compared with 1936, of approximately $193,000. The former factor was unforeseen, but attention was drawn to the latter in paragraphs 2 and 33 of last year's report.
3. Receipts and net operating revenue were $1,331,468.73 and $436,935.30 respectively, as against $1,245,469.16 and $454,733.00 the previous year. These results are considered to be very satisfactory, the increase in receipts over the revised estimated earnings, which were prepared in October 1936 when the full effect of the closing of Shum Chun Casino could be gauged, being more than 30%. Substantial advances were obtained from through goods traffic, through passenger traffic and rents. All sources registered gains with the exception of local passenger traffic and auxiliary operations, which were affected adversely by the circumstances outlined in paragraph 2 above.
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"KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY. (British Section)
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1937.
I.-GENERAL SURVEY.
1. The period under review was marked by vicissitudes. It can be recorded as the most eventful twelve months in the history of the Railway. Abnormal occurrences in chronological order, were a disastrous fire on the Up Through Fast train in January, resulting in the death of 84 persons; a major derail- ment of the same train twelve days later; record passenger traffic during the Ching Ming festival in April and the Corona- tion celebrations in May; linking-up of the Canton-Hankow and the Canton-Kowloon Railways in August; the subsequent introduction of a working agreement for through goods traffic between Kowloon and Hankow; use of all available space on the Railway Reclamation at Kowloon for storing cargo originally destined for Shanghai but diverted to Hong Kong owing to Sino-Japanese hostilities; intensive damage to track and the total suspension of traffic for ten days caused by a record typhoon in September; and lastly, the intensive bombing of the Chinese Section of the line from October to December which caused dislocation of traffic, damage to rolling stock and the ultimate cancellation of the through morning and mid-day passenger trains.
2. The year opened with strength and confidence, brighter conditions prevailing due to the improvement in trade. All revenue figures, however, are somewhat vitiated as indices of comparison by two over-riding considerations: firstly, the Sino- Japanese conflict which affected all sources considerably from August, and secondly, the cessation of both Shum Chun Casino traffic and express train haulage which resulted in a loss in earnings, as compared with 1936, of approximately $193,000. The former factor was unforeseen, but attention was drawn to the latter in paragraphs 2 and 33 of last year's report.
3. Receipts and net operating revenue were $1,331,468.73 and $436,935.30 respectively, as against $1,245,469.16 and $454,733.00 the previous year. These results are considered to be very satisfactory, the increase in receipts over the revised estimated earnings, which were prepared in October 1936 when the full effect of the closing of Shum Chun Casino could be gauged, being more than 30%. Substantial advances were obtained from through goods traffic, through passenger traffic and rents. All sources registered gains with the exception of local passenger traffic and auxiliary operations, which were affected adversely by the circumstances outlined in paragraph 2 above.
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