4. Operating expenditure was $894,533.43, compared with $790,736.16 last year. The increase is ascribable principally to typhoon damage which involved the Railway in abnormal expenditure to the extent of $80,883, and in a lesser degree to a considerable rise in the price of coal which affected running costs by $32,177. But for these two factors, less money would have been spent than in 1936.
5. Traffic features of the year were a further advance of through passenger, and a large increase in through goods earnings. Terminal and sectional through passenger receipts were up 3.17% and 23.69% respectively, despite the total suspension of traffic for a total period of 17 days, and the cancellation of the morning and mid-day expresses during the last three weeks of December. Revenue from both these sources constituted new records for this Railway. The most pleasing result, however, was the unexpected rise in through goods receipts which soared from $44,694.93 to $167,556.45. Nearly two-thirds of the total earnings from this source were obtained during the last three months of the year when the working agreement for transit goods was in operation.
6. The most serious calamity which this Railway has experienced since its inception occurred on January 16th when a fire broke out on the mid-day fast train at Mile 74 on the Chinese Section. The train was filled to capacity and the loss of life was heavy, there being 84 dead and 30 persons injured. Twelve days later, the same train was involved in a second accident at Mile 42 on the Chinese Section which caused damage to stock but not to passengers.
7. Co-operation with the River Steamboat Companies continued and the basic fares were maintained. The percentage of railborne to total river-rail carryings between Hong Kong and Canton was 47.7% which is exactly the same as the 1936 figure. As foreshadowed in paragraph 9 of last year's report, the S.S. "Fuk On" was withdrawn from the run at the end of March.
8. Record numbers of through passengers were carried during both the Ching Ming festival held in April and the Coronation celebrations in May. The results obtained reflected the general economic recovery and the consequent increase in the spending power of the public. During the four days preceding Ching Ming, the through passengers conveyed northwards reached a new peak figure of 20,726, an increase of 38% over the previous maximum carryings of 15,038 obtained in 1935. Then again, on May 11th, the day before the Coronation of Their Majesties the King and Queen, 10,684 through passengers were transported to Kowloon in 9 expresses, constituting a new record for southbound traffic.
$ 5
4. Operating expenditure was $894,533.43, compared with $790,736.16 last year. The increase is ascribable principally to typhoon damage which involved the Railway in abnormal expenditure to the extent of $80,883, and in a lesser degree to a considerable rise in the price of coal which affected running costs by $32,177. But for these two factors, less money would have been spent than in 1936.
5. Traffic features of the year were a further advance of through passenger, and a large increase in through goods earnings. Terminal and sectional through passenger receipts were up 3.17% and 23.69% respectively, despite the total suspension of traffic for a total period of 17 days, and the cancellation of the morning and mid-day expresses during the last three weeks of December. Revenue from both these sources constituted new records for this Railway. The most pleasing result, however, was the unexpected rise in through goods receipts which soared from $44,694.93 to $167,556.45. Nearly two-thirds of the total earnings from this source were obtained during the last three months of the year when the working agreement for transit goods was in operation.
6. The most serious calamity which this Railway has experienced since its inception occurred on January 16th when a fire broke out on the mid-day fast train at Mile 74 on the Chinese Section. The train was filled to capacity and the loss of life was heavy, there being 84 dead and 30 persons injured. Twelve days later, the same train was involved in a second accident at Mile 42 on the Chinese Section which caused damage to stock but not to passengers.
7. Co-operation with the River
River Steamboat Companies continued and the basic fares were maintained. The percentage of railborne to total river-rail carryings between Hong Kong and Canton was 47.7% which is exactly the same as the 1936 figure. As foreshadowed in paragraph 9 of last year's report, the S.S. "Fuk On" was withdrawn from the run at the end of March.
8. Record numbers of through passengers were carried during both the Ching Ming festival held in April and the Coronation celebrations in May. The results obtained reflected the general economic recovery and the consequent increase in the spending power of the public. During the four days preced- ing Ching Ming, the through passengers conveyed northwards reached a new peak figure of 20,726, an increase of 38% over the previous maximum carryings of 15,038 obtained in 1935. Then again, on May 11th, the day before the Coronation of Their Majesties the King and Queen, 10,684 through passengers were transported to Kowloon in 9 expresses, constituting a new record for southbound traffic.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.