Ashburton Railway Crossings

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25546, 14 July 1948, Page 4

Ashburton Railway Crossings

The Minister of Railways (Mr R. Semple) has refused the Ashburton Borough Council’s request that the speed of north-bound trains approaching the town should be reduced to 20 miles an hour. His letter, which the council received at its meeting this week, is a good example of ministerial obstinacy. Mr Semple apparently believes that the speed of trains need not be reduced because his department has provided warning bells and notices at three crossings mentioned in his letter. But warning bells and notices have not prevented fatal accidents in the past, and they will not in the future if trains continue to pass through Ashburton at more than 20 miles an hour. To reduce the speed of these trains would not necessarily prevent all crossing accidents, but it would minimise the risk at crossings always likely to be dangerous because they are in the middle of the town. Mr Semple reminded the council that motorists and others have to take care when they use crossings. The answer is that when they take all possible care they do not lift from Mr Semple’s department its full responsibility—to make crossings as safe as it can—or even lighten it. In Ashburton it is a specially . heavy responsibility. I There are five crossings in the town area. They have warning bells and notices, but no visual signals to attract the attention of those who may not hear the bells. While the approaches are reasonably clear, they are obscured occasionally by rakes of trucks at commercial sidings on the west side of the main line. These are additional reasons for reducing the speed of trains. Ashburton residents should not have to face the risk of accidents at crossings because trains do not slow down to a reasonable speed. The obvious objection that time will be lost by reducing speed is answered in a letter to the council from the Ashburton Chamber of Commerce, which says that no more than three minutes will be lost, and this can be made up on clear sections of the line. Loss of time is of less account than loss of life. The council has every reason to be dissatisfied with the Minister’s reply.