ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1233, 15 September 1911, Page 5

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

FAVOURED IN VICTORIA. By Telegraph—PreßS Association—Oopyrieht Melbourne, September H. A Royal Commission on Metropolitan Traffic has reported in favour of tho electrification of the suburban railways and tramways scheme. This will involve an outlay of over .£5,000,000. DEVELOPMENTS IN BRITAIN. In a paper contributed to the proceedings of the British Institution of Civil Engineers Sir Philip Dawson, tho wellknown electrical engineer, has given interesting details of the electrification of portion of the surburban system of tho London, Brighton, and South Coast railway. Comparison of Steam and Electric Service 1 on South London Line. ElecSteam. trie. Average schedule speed per hour (mile) 14.8 22 Increased spped per cent. ... — 45.7 Average acceleration in miles per hour 0.4 1.0 Time of journey in minuteg 35 24 Time required at termini,

minutes 6 1 These figures sliow a remarkablo economy of time on a line 8.7 miles in length, on which there are nine intermediate stations. It will be observed that tho time spent at the terminus is only one minute, as against six under steam, shoving a saving of five minutes. Apply these figures for running time and for terminal stoppage of trains on tho principal lines running in and out of Flinders Street Station, says the Melbourne "Argus," and it will be realised how electrical working would relieve tho congestion, which cannot be removed under steam conditions except at enormous expense in duplicating lines.