LINWOOD TRAMS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13908, 6 December 1910, Page 8

LINWOOD TRAMS.

STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN

At the meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Board yesterday, ttie Chairman (Mr H. Pearce) made the following statement regarding the Linwood tram service:— As the re-arrangement of the Linwood service has been received with some criticism from Linwcod residents living in the north-eastern corner of the district. I propose to briefly refer to thc reasons for adopting the present arrangement of routes and time-tabies. As the Linwood services are part!, made up by New Brighton and Burwood cars, it is necessary to refer to them also. Whenever possible, it is desirable that all cars should pass through the business centre of the town, instead of Cathedral square only being made their objective. The present arrangement under which New Brighton aud Burwood passengers can board or leave the cars in Cashel street, with a further concession of the 'overlapping section between Cashel street and Worcester street at the city end, is an undoubted convenience to a large number. It is also even more desirable that shunting in the Square should be reduced to the lowest possible point. Not only should an endeavour be made, in the public interest, to interfere with the growing vehicular traffic as little as possible, but the inconvenience and danger to tram patrons, through shunting in the Square, must also be kept in view. Whenever shunting takes place, men, women, and children are invariably seen boarding or leaving trailers or electric cars whenever they momentarily stop during the operation. This causes delay, adds to the work ef the men, and is attended with accident risk of which the Board has had experience. Tho Board will be asked to approve of an addition to tho track under which the shunting of Sumner cars will ,be almost altogether avoided, and the recent re-arrangement of routes of New Brighton and Burwood cars has been made to secure this also. In addition to tho increase on the number of New Brighton trips and the additional car on thc Richmond service, in both of which Linwood shares, an additional car was allocated to the Linwood service, making three instead of two as formerly. As, for the reasons already stated, the New Brighton cars run in by ono street and out by the other, it was necessary to send two Linwood cars in the opposite direction in order to balance the services in Cashel and Worcester streets beyond Stantnore road. Other reasons for this circular run could bo mentioned if necessary. If, for instance, two of these cars were confined to Worcester street only, and the other to Cashel street, as has been suggested, it would only permit a halfhourly service outwards in Cashel street beyond Stanmore road, which would bo insufficient. By the present arrangement of circular running it is possible to get, approximately, a 15 minute service in both directions, in both streets beyond Stanniore road. This service is supplemented on the City side of Stanmore road by tho Richmond and Burwood cars, which provide a 15 minute service approximately, in via Worcester street and out via Cashel street. It must bo remembered that before tho Cashel street lino was opened, the single line in Worcester street was used for tho three services (Linwood, Burwood, and New Brighton), and that there were constant complaints about the congestion which resulted. The Cashel street line was built in response to the request of Burwood and Richmond districts and South Linwood that this route should be restored to them, but it was also installed in order to relieve the congestion in Worcester street. The residents to the north of Worcester street beyond Stanmore road can hardly expect to now have as many trips, in Worcester street, as they had beforo the Cashel street line was opened. But if, after fully testing tho present timetable, it is fonnd that the traffic demands an increase, such increase will be given possibly by putting on an extra car in Worcester street in the afternoons. This question will receive full and careful consideration early in the New Year.