HUTT RAILWAY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 46, 18 November 1926, Page 8

HUTT RAILWAY SERVICE

NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT. Sir,—On many occasions comment has been made in the Press-on the erratic running and heavy overloading, particularly at peak hours, of the suburban railway service to the Hutt Valley from Lambton Station. It is high time that improvement should be made in the service generally, particularly in the direction of faster service and more rolling stock. At the present time the service is insufficient to cppe with the passenger traffic, and the time taken from Lambton Station to Upper Hutt averages one hour for the 20-mile run (per time-table) which is too slow. With the cheap electric power available from the Government schemes, the suburban system should at once be electrified, which would result in greater acceleration, higher average speed from 20 to 25 miles per hour, economy in opeiation and maintenance, increase number of train miles, and, above all, greater comfort to the travelling public. Under electrified railway schemes it is quite possible to run a fast two-minute service should the passenger traffic require it. It is estimated that, with the low price of electric power now available in Now Zealand, the running cost per train mile would lie 30 per cent, below that of the steam service now in operation. Electrically-operated railways are not tn the infancy stage but are full grown to man’s estate, and well proved in all parts of the world: they cannot be regarded as a convenience, but are >n every way n publie necessity. It' is to bo hoped that the Govern mciit and the Railway Commissioners will sit up and take notice, that the suburban systems of the. New Zealand railways require modernising, end not allowed to remain in the antiquated state they are in to-day.—l am. etc., ELECTRON.