SMARTER TRAINS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 15, 12 October 1927, Page 13

SMARTER TRAINS

AIM OF RAILWAY BOARD IMPROVED SYSTEM OF CONTROL Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, October 11. Some idea of the heavy reorganisation and improvement campaign, estimated to require ten years for its completion, which is even now being carried out by the Railways, was given ■to members of the Palmerston Citizens’ Branch Club to-day by Mr. J. Mason, a member of the Railway Board, who addressed them on the subject of modern transport. This programme of reorganisation was begun three years ago, said Mr. Mason, and already much progress had been made. Mr. Mason dealt at some length with the question of what he called “train control.” He explained that when train control was in operation an officer was in constant supervision of all train movements. He. had at hand a special telephone service connecting him with all stations in the area under his control, and was thus able at a moment’s notice to obtain information and to issue instructions. This scheme had been tried out in many of the busier railway systems of England, and had since been tried out in South Africa and in several Australian States, and this with very satisfactory results. What the board was now awaiting was the completion of the erection of line and telephone installation. When this work was finished, which ought to be within the next few months, the scheme would be inaugurated between and Marton, in the North Island, and between Christchurch and Oamaru in the South Island. It would be extended further as funds became available. A supervisor, when he took up his duties, would give special attention to punctuality of passenger trains, and would, by means of- special telephone facilities, be able to anticipate, and to eliminate as they arose many factors that under present conditions militated against the strict maintenance of timetable schedules. In addition to the supervision of passenger trains, close oversight would be kept on the transit of goods, said the speaker, and it was hoped that by this close contact faster and more regular service would be obtained. Success in transit would have euhanced benefits in the earlier release of wagons to meet the everincreasing demands at peak periods of varying seasonal traffic. This programme, explained Mr.. Mason, called in some places for virtual ralway reconstruction with line duplications, rebuilding of large terminal stations, increased siding accommodation, and enlargement of goods sheds, as well as curve reductions and grade easements to reduce operating costs. Given these improved facilites, however, the percentage of operating expenses to gross revenue should be amenable to considerable reduction. The Railway Administration had a very clear conception of the work which lay ahead, declared Mr. Mason, and there was little likelihood of wasted effort through want of concentration upon a definite objective. What the Railway Department had definitely in view might be catalogued under the following headings:—Reduction of operating costs, improved shunting facilities, extension of modern signalling, branch line econoniies, and improved train sendees. Referring to the last-named heading, Mr. Mason explained that this included further improvement in the punctuality of trains. For the year ended March 31 the average late arrival of vraious classes of trains running throughout the Dominion had been as follows: —Dong distance passenger trains, 5.94 minutes; suburban trains, 0.70 minutes; long distance mixed trains, 6.12 minutes. Long distance passenger trains that averaged less than 6 minutes late arrival, together with suburban trains that averaged less than three-quarter minutes late arrival, were doing quite well, but by the assistance of train control, together with general smartening up of station operating it was hoped to improve even upon those figures.