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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 8 (November 2, 1936)

The Railways and Safety

The Railways and Safety.

Railway travel has for long been recognised the world over as by far the safest form of movement. Like the New Zealand lines, the Home railways are especially proud of their fine safety record—a record which the recently published official report upon accidents occurring last year shows to be splendidly maintained.

The total route mileage of the Home railways at the close of 1935 was 20,295, the greater portion consisting of two or more tracks. During the twelve months ended December 31st, 1935, only 13 persons were killed in train accidents, and 408 injured. The liability among passengers to fatal injury was one killed to every 130,000,000 carried. In what are officially described as “movement accidents”—as, for example, careless boarding and alighting from trains—84 passengers were killed.

London-Ramsgate “Holiday Land” Express, Southern Railway.

London-Ramsgate “Holiday Land” Express, Southern Railway.

The total casualties at level crossings were 51 killed and the same number injured. The official report rightly pays tribute to the successful efforts of the railways towards immunity from mishap. In 1935, passenger journeys totalled no fewer than 1,697,000,000; and passenger and freight train-miles, 435,000,000.