1960-1961 — Page 6

GENERAL SURVEY

THE year closed with a surplus of operating revenue over expenditure of $5,345,923.07 which is the highest since the year ending 31st March, 1951. The Profit and Loss Account also shows the highest profit for the same period at $3,619,690.95.

2. Gross income was $9,672,524.57 the highest since the financial year 1950-51 and $1,034,357.42 more than the previous year. There was a higher operating expenditure of $4,326,601.50 or $230,450.80 more than the previous year. The increased operating expenditure was brought about by increases in personal emoluments and in pensions and gratuities.

3. Local passenger traffic continued to show an upward trend with an increase over the previous year of 6.54% in the number of journeys. Non-local passenger traffic also increased and was 11.77% more than the previous year in the number of journeys.

4. In the case of goods traffic, both the export tonnage and import tonnage increased compared with the previous year, the export tonnage by 60.88% and the import tonnage by 23.38%.

5. The import of live pigs from China, which has traditionally been an important feature of incoming goods traffic, declined during the year. The total for the whole year amounted to 228,059 head as against 256,307 head for the previous year, but the importation of cattle rose from 5,958 head to 24,016 head.

6. Orders for 3 model G-16 1950 H.P. diesel-electric locomotives from General Motors Overseas Operations in the U.S.A. and for 23 passenger coaches from Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd. in the United Kingdom were placed through the Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations on 10th January, 1961 and 27th February, 1961 respectively. It is expected that the locomotives. will arrive about August 1961 and the coaches at about monthly intervals between July 1962 and December 1962. With the arrival of the new rolling stock it will be possible to provide a better and more frequent train service than at present.

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