Ext 3580/1941 'Iraqi State Railways. Reports on the Administration of.' [‎51r] (101/166)

KAILWAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT
3
s undoubtedly
estimates, the
;elf by savings
on the tunnel
which should
». The benefits
ire varied and
length in the
Railway system
economic basis
ving provinces
/en the facility
son to expect
;nd with bene-
?nt, due to the
uckage as the
lis reason, the
1 Tel-Kotchek
ce is in opera-
ing stock from
■ between Iraq
t must not be
ve been ignor
the open lines
iven to certair
future is con-
of a Railway
the existing
tied during the
neral merchan-
e to conditions
was the open-
3 of storage of
it was with the
the enclosures
to store goods
e arrangement
i and the steps
'eport that the
anv directions,
j
icularly on the
ties of products
er by the cross
Beyrouth, the
that when the
>e diverted via
t from Abadan
nd during this
Through book-
s suspended on
lead and Mosul
Hindiyah Barrage again remained closed to the passage of trains through
out the year. Constant complaint is made by travellers of the immense incon
venience caused in their journey to and from Kerbala. Goods traffic is also
delayed and these unfortunate circumstances cause the utmost irritation to the
trading and travelling Public. The best is done to deal with the situation but
as matters stand at present, it is impossible to alleviate the existing state of
affairs ; an unfortunate point is the fact that owing to our shortage of rolling
stock we are unable to place good carriages on the Kerbala side of the Barrage ;
the old four-wheelers at present in use are no credit to the Railway and we are
frequently reminded of the fact. Even by straining our existing "resources to
the utmost, very little can be done by way of improvement.
2. —Baiji—Tel-Kotchek Extension
The line from Tel-Kotchek to As-Sabuniyah was opened on January ist T
1939, the first train to enter Iraq being the Taurus-Express which arrived to
time. I he 1 raffic Manager travelled in charge of the train, accompanied by the
Chief Engineer, the Running Superintendent also the Deputy Chairman and
the I raffic Manager of the Chemins de fer Damas, Hama and Prolongements.
Mosul station was opened for Passenger traffic on March 31st, 1939, the service
being maintained by the Taurus Express only.
3. —Simplon-Orient-Express Route
I his traffic has remained steady throughout the year and the gross returns
showed a profit on the combined road and rail services. Steps are being taken
to develop the routes via Vienna, Stuttgart and Basle, and via Cologne and
Ostend. It is hoped in due course that considerable increase of traffic will take
place in view of the facilties that have now been provided. The opening of the
line to Mosul and eventually to Baghdad will certainly contribute to greater use
of the all-rail route to and from Europe.
The Traffic Manager attended the Simplon-Orient-Express Conference at
Budapest in October, i93^> an( ^ arranged that the I aurus-Express would run three
times a week to Mosul, when the line to that point was opened. He was unable
to induce the interested Administrations to agree to any further modification of
the fares for Single tickets to and from London, Paris, etc., but the provisional
reduction of 40 per cent on Return tickets between the same points was con-
tirmed for permanent application. He was however, successful in arranging a
permanent reduction of 33I per cent on return fares between Stations in Iraq
and Istanbul.