Electric Trains As Coal Savers

Chronicle (Levin), 6 November 1948, Page 6

Electric Trains As Coal Savers

WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. The adoption of electric traction in the Wellington suburban area and the use of diesel shunti ng engines in the Wellington yard, would effect a saving of appro.ximately 22,000 tons of coal annually, said the Minister of Iiailways, Mr. Semple, in a statement today in which he said that within a few months signs would be visible on the W ellington-Taita line of the beginning of the largest railway qlectrification scheme yet undertaken m New Zealand. Early activity would probably be concentrated on -the casting of foundations for the structures to support tlie overhead eurrent-delivery system and at the same time foundations would be laid for traction sub-stations at Ivaiwarra, Petone, Haywards and Uppei Ilutt. The designs for the sub-station equipment had been completed and the construction of various liiodern units was being undertaken by Englisli manufacturers of eleetrica! plant. The control point of the entire Wellington electrilication, including tlie Johnsonville and Manawatu lines, would be at Kaiwarra. To facilitate the handling of the fast and frequent electric train serviee envisagcfd for Hutt Valley, extensive perinanent way alterations would be involved and overhead traliic bridges, pedestrian ' subways and foot overbridges were under consideration for parts of the route. There would l)e a half-mile long deviatiou of the railway just south of Petone if the Petone level erossing were replaced by a concrete road overbridgo. The plans provide for the electrilication of the two main lines to Upper Ilutt with provision for the construction of a third to Taita. Multiple unit coaches for suburban passenger trains will be uscd on the Hutt Valley services. Powerful electric locoiuotives will haul freight. and long distance passenger trains over the electrilied section. lt is estiniated that a total of 40 motor coaches and 71 driving trailer coaches will be required to oporate the Ilutt Valley passengei services and wlien tlie •'electrilication scheine is coiuplete more tlian 40 steani locornotives will be reieased for serviee elsewhere. Multiplc unit stock would also be

required for tlie Paekakariki line and it was lioped that this equipment, equalling four six-car trains, will be operating about the middle of next year. The seven ne-w electric locornotives known as class "EW," will have a maximum speed of 60 miles hourly and be capable of liauling 600-ton th rough goods trains between Wellington aiul Upper Ilutt at a speed of 30 miles hourly. Those locornotives will also work to Paekakariki and eventually further alield as electrilication is extended. Lt is proposed to maintain throughout the dav, a 15-minute serviee to Taita and a 30-minute serviee to Upper Ilutt with variations at peak periods. The travelling time between Wellington and Taita will be reduced from the 36 to 40 minutes taken by steam trains, to 2!) minutes by the electric trains. Htopping at all stations, Upper Ilutt will be reached iu 47 minutes by the stopping trains aud in 37 minutes by the fast trains. At present Wellington station liandles approxiniatelv 240 passenger trains duily of whieh about 100 travel tu and from the Ilutt Valley. With the rapidly ijicreasing i>opulation antiei])atel. some 250 electric trains will be necessarv lo meet tlie daily transport re(|iiiremenls of the Ilutt Valley area alone.