Communications System Has Few Equals In The World

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29350, 1 November 1960, Page 25

Communications System Has Few Equals In The World

A train-control system and a teleprinter network which will have few equals anywhere in the world will be advanced another stage when equipment now being installed in the new Christchurch railway station is in full operation. The major communications modernisation programme now under way is expected to be completed in 1962, and will provide automatic telephone working throughout the key system. The New Zealand Railways already has an extensive communications network, some functions of which are known to the public. Others, not so well-

known, are of vital importance to the efficient operation of the railways. The better-known services are those used by the public for normal railway business such as passenger ’ inquiries, seat reservations, sleeper inquiries and matters of parcels traffic and waggon supply. The lesser-known services are those used by the department for its own business, including a train-control system and a teleprinter network. On the existing plan, the country has been divided into 17 provided within each trunk zone, trunk zones, each of which has a main trunk exchange associated with a number of satellite ex-

changes. Subscriber dialling is and there is access to other trunk zones by way of an operator. In the new Christchurch station, a staff of about 15 railway mechanicians has been engaged for the last three months in the installation of the trunk exchange which will be the controlling exchange of the Christchurch zone. It is an 800-line P.A.X.8., of which 600 lines are being used initially, and is similar to that recently commissioned in the Wellington railway station. Associated minor exchanges have been installed at Ashburton, Otira, Waipara and Kaikoura, and direct subscriber dialling will be possible in the area bounded by Temuka in the south, Moana in the west, and Ward in the north.

To give access to other trunk zones, there are six direct lines to Wellington and Dunedin, three to Timaru and Greymouth, and two each to Blenheim and Invercargill. The telephone operators’ positions, which are located on the first floor of the new station building, are of the cordless console type and are a complete departure from the old upright type with its array of cords, plugs, and lamps. Cable jointers and their staff have been engaged for many months on the preparatory work of running and jointing outdoor cables, and more recently on reticulating the new station building to serve the many telephones installed there.

The teleprinter office, on the first floor of the new station, has been equipped with machines of the latest model. Messages can be sent direct from the Ghristchurch station to any other railway teleprinter office in the country. A modern, low-level public address system has been installed in the new station and will be used for making announcements to the travelling public. An electric impulse clock system is being fitted throughout the building. A master clock in the automatic telephone exchange on the second floor will control all the clocks, from the large 7ft 6in dials on the station tower to the small 6in clocks used in the smaller offices.