NEW SOUTH WALES RAILWAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15821, 19 January 1915, Page 5

NEW SOUTH WALES RAILWAYS

FALL IN REVENUE.

To meet a serious falling off in the railway traffic of the New South Wales State, due to drought and the war principally, it has been found necessary to reduce the expenditure of the Railway Department. This will involve reduction in the train services.

An official statement to this effect was made to a Sydney Morning Herald reporter. It was pointed out that such reductions would, however, be mado only after the fullest consideration had been given to the requirements of the public. The reductions to be made would affect practically the whole railway system of the State. In all cases where trains were really necessary to meet the public convenience, in the case of goods trains required to carry produce, for instance, they would be run ; but as there had been a very serious falling off in tho production of the country, it was obvious that in goods trains services a considerable reduction could be effected. Passenger traffic, too, was now less than it was a short time ago. The week before last, according to the official figures of the Railway Department, there was a shortage of £20,800, as compared with the corresponding week of last year. Unfortunately there was no indication that the position was likely to improve. It was stated, further, that it was really in respect to country branch lines upon which business was almost dead, a.s a result of the failure of the wheat harvest and the drought, that changes would probably be made. The Cooma line, upon which it had been stated the commissioners proposed to curtail the existing service, had been a losing line ever sinco it was opened ; but it had not been decided i whether th» mail train would be dist continued.

With regard to the reported shortening of staffs, it was stated that an effort would be made to maintain the men in their employment as far as practicable, but they might have to work short time. Sydney men were not likely to be affected. They had already been dealt with. The inter-State traffic was not likely to suffer, .as the express traffic was still fairly satisfactory.