ELECTRIFIED RAILWAYS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 128, 3 June 1919, Page 6

ELECTRIFIED RAILWAYS

One reason for the electrification of suburban railways, . according to Mr. Hiley, is the competition of electric tramway services for passenger traffic. If this is so, the railways in the long run will be better off, not worse off, through tramway rivalry; for had the railway monopoly driven the tramway competitors off its beat, the former would have had less spur to self-improvement. Mr. Hiley stated on Friday evening that railway trains could not possibly compete with electric tramcars unless the former, by means of electrical traction, could take passengers through tunnels cleanly, quickly, and without inconvenience. But it is a fact—and the importance of it is not always fully recognised—that between Wellington and Upper Hutt there is not a single tunnel nor a single grade; and yet the railway veto fell hard and heavy upon the tramway service proposed to. be constructed along the Hutt'road. The conclusion forces itself that the Railway Department is very fond of having things all its own way; but its own way is not always the best way to its own progressive development. Whether an electric tramway passenger service is really required along the Huttroad ,we do not know. That remains an open question. But a concrete road is very much required; and, seeing that the capital expenditure is to be borne by motor charges, this work should be classed among urgent needs. Reduction of wear and tear,, both for the motor vehicles and for the road, should result in cheaper motoring, and might even partly meet the purpose that inspires the tramway dsmand. Good roads are quite as important as good railway services.