Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 4 (September 1, 1931.)

[section]

Co-ordination of inland transport in its several forms is a topic to which much consideration is now being devoted throughout the world. More especially is attention being turned to the respective parts that should be played in national transportation schemes by railways and roads. At Home a special commission appointed by the Government two years ago to examine these questions has just issued its report, and this document—extending to some two hundred and forty pages—contains much of interest for railwaymen the world over. In his present contribution, our Special London Correspondent makes interesting reference to this report and reviews current railway developments in Britain and on the Continent.

Whatever else may happen,” says the report of the British Government's Commission on the coordination of transport, “it is clear that the maintenance of an efficient railway system is a national necessity.” Difficulties at present facing the railways are ascribed to (1) continued depression in trade, especially in the “heavy” industries; and (2) the competition of the road carrier and privately-owned motor-car. The first-named is put as the most serious obstacle to railway prosperity, and it is noted that a return of industrial prosperity would speedily bring greatly increased business to the railways. Curiously enough, the Commission does not recommend the wholesale acquisition by railways of road carrying undertakings, being of the belief that the money could be better spent on suburban electrification in the neighbourhood of the big cities. It is suggested that railway passenger time-tables should be completely overhauled, and the fullest use made of the railway's capacity for speed in short and moderate distance journeys. Irritating restrictions associated with the issues of excursion tickets should be cut out; little used and unremunerative branch lines should be closed; a larger number of high capacity goods wagons should be introduced; and more containers should be employed for handling miscellaneous freight. Much heavy traffic at present moving by road should pass by railway, and there should be a pooling of resources at points where more than one railway company operates.

Many years ago the problem of rail-road co-ordination was met to some small degree by the haulage over the Home railways of stage coaches which, at either end of the rail journey, took to the road and covered considerable mileages as ordinary horse-drawn vehicles. Now-a-days the stage coach is unknown, but one Home railway, at any rate, is seeking to solve the time-worn problem of producing a practicable vehicle that can travel either on rail or road.