CITY TRAMWAY SYSTEM NEARING CRISIS STAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 June 1949, Page 4

CITY TRAMWAY SYSTEM NEARING CRISIS STAGE

Stating that it would not be in the interests of public safety to continue operating the trains alter the end of this year, the engineer and manager (Mr. Row) again referred in his report to the deteriorated condition of the tracks and the need for an early decision regarding replacement of the existing system. Uncertainty as to tlie immediate future, he added, made it impossible to plan for the winding up of the service io the best advantage. “Annual and special reports over the past six years have stressed the poor condition of tramway equipment and tracks,” Mr. Row stated. “During the year the matter has been brought before the Transport Committee on a number of occasions. While the council anticipated that the tramway system would soon be replaced by buses, there have been constant delays in reaching finality and there is still no assurance as to when the trams will cease to be required. “It is desired to once again stress that the whole position is becoming critical. There have been frequent derailments due to the worn out condition of trams rails and no amount of ordinary maintenance can remedy the position. Nothing short of rail replacements could make the track satisfactory, and the committee has agreed that the cost of such work would not be warranted under present conditions. So far there have been no serious consequences arising from derailments, but it must be pointed out that there are potential dangers, particularly to other road users, when a last moving tram leaves the rails on a straight length of trdek," Mr. Row added. “If the trams axe replaced within the next eight or 10 months, no great difficulties should arise, but if the replacement is delayed beyond that period there are grave doubts about the wisdom of continuing to operate a system which is in such poor shape. It would not be in the interests of public safety to continue to operate after the end of this year except at considerably reduced speeds, and even then the deteriorated condition ot the system as a whole would mean that some hazards would still remain. “Uncertainty as to the immediate future of the system makes it impossible to plan for the winding Up of the service to the best advantage. For instance, the painting of cars and replacement of parts have so far been continued at a normal level. Immediately a definite winding up date is known, it should be possible to curtail many items of expenditure which otherwise must be continued. The answers to these and other questions should be found as early as possible in order to avoid unnecessary expense,” the report stated.