Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 7 (December 1, 1932)

The Position in Germany

The Position in Germany.

Like the British lines, the German railways have been hard hit by the prevailing trade depression. The recently published annual report of the German National Railways for 1931 shows that the total railway revenue for that year was 16 per cent. less than for 1930, and 28 per cent. less than in 1929. Freight receipts were actually down 19 per cent., and passenger receipts 15 per cent. Expenditure was cut by 11 per cent. as compared with 1930, but the ratio of working expenditure to working revenue grew in 1931 to 94.12 per cent., compared with 89.50 per cent. in 1930.

During 1931 the German Railways took out of service 3,300 locomotives and 221,000 goods wagons, owing to shortage of business. Throughout the year there was recorded a marked discarding of first and second-class passenger travel in favour of the cheaper third-class, as well as a big diminution of workers' transport in industrial areas. Because of the lack of fresh capital, big electrification schemes have had to be postponed. An interesting feature is the growing participation of the German Railways in road transport. Ninety-eight regular passenger motor car routes, totalling about 1,500 miles, are now operated by the railways in association with the postal authorities. In addition, the railways are operating special excursion trips by road motor, and have acquired twelve company-owned passenger omnibus lines, and thirteen omnibus lines jointly with other concerns.