RADIO LINKS IN TRAINS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 11

RADIO LINKS IN TRAINS

‘lmpracticable’ Says Manager

The use of radio communcations between trains, or between trains and stations, had been investigated but this was not practicable on a national basis, said the acting General Manager of Railways (Mr I. Thomas).

He was commenting on a letter to the editor of "The Press” from C. J. Allpress who. supporting a sub-leader which expressed concern about railway safety, said he maintained that the department should use radio communication between trains.

Mr Allpress suggested that “every train crew could report as a routine matter, and all crews would be aware of the movements of all trains in the area. Help in an emergency could be requested immediately.” ■1 have heard a rail-car sitting at Hornby with its hooter blowing, waiting for the signals to change. Surely a radio intercom service is the answer to this situation. Accidents happen, and a radio service would be of tremendous help at such times,’* said Mr Allpress. Mr Thomas said that telephones connected with central train control offices were found at intervals of about a mile beside the track. "These telephones give immediate contact with the train control operator who is in a position to organise emergency measures and assistance when required.” In his letter, Mr Allpress mentioned taht a passenger had to walk to the nearest farmhouse to report the Dashwood derailment. Mr Thomas said that although a passenger had very kindly volunteered to walk to the nearest farmhouse to telephone for assistance, the accident was also reported by the guard of the train from the nearest railway telephone.

"In fact the first notification of the mishap that railway officers at Christchurch and Blenheim received resulted from the guard’s call,” said Mr Thomas.