TRAMWAY AND THE FUTURE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 135, 5 December 1930, Page 8

TRAMWAY AND THE FUTURE

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The enclosed sals-leader in a iecent number of. the English "Daily Mail" is striking evidence of the fast disappear ing tramways and trains, and it is amaz ing that an up-to-date city like Wellington should think of perpetuating a system that will be as extinct as the dodo in less_than a generation. The noise, inconvenience, and obstruction caused by the trams are fast becoming unbearable, while the vibra tion is a deadly- menace to valuable city property. It is time Wellington faced facts and kept abreast of modern thought in its traffic system.—l am, etc., NELSON. 4th December. The article mentioned by the correspondent reads: "It is to be hoped that the reports are true which credit the Royal Commission on Transport with the intention of recommending that, as fur as possible, tramway tracks should be removed where the overhead wire is in use. This would be a great gain to traffic by diminishing the strain on our roads in Outer London and all the great cities where the tramway-car, tied to its track, is familiar as the most obstructive of vehicles. It is understood that the Commission favours the employment of trackless trolleys such as are now in service in various towns in this country. The tramway in its early days served a very useful purpose. But with'the advent of the motor omnibus it lost much of its value and was at a signal disadvantage. It cannot pull in to the side of the highway, and thus has to disgorge its unfortunate passengers in the midst of the road, which is a source of great danger to them and of extreme ob st-uction to other traffic. It is held up by any obstacle on the road, whereas the motor vehicle can go round or take-ai^ alternative route. The disappearance' of the tramway is only a question of 'time, and in several of our most progressive provincial cities it has already been eliminated. It will be retained longest when it is of the conduit type, where the loss caused by scrapping would be heaviest."