THE RAILWAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1931, Page 8

THE RAILWAYS

SAFETY OF PASSENGER

TRAINS. ■RIGID EXAMINATION MADE. ' AUCKLAND, November 23. * The likel:hood ( of a derailment sucJi as occurred to the goods train at K okio happening to a passenger train was discounted by the General Manager of RaiiHvays, Mr H. H. Sterling, i On his arrival from 'Wellington on Departmental business, Mr Sterling said he had not yet been informed of the cause of tlfe derailment. An inquiry was being conducted immediately by the Railway Department's technical officers, who would go into all the facts regarding the speed of the train, the condition of the rolling stock and track, and all other relevant circumstances, in an endeavour to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Commenting on the procedure adopted by the Department, following a railway mishap, Mr Sterling sa d every case was the subject of a very exhaustive inquiry by the technical officers with the object not onlv of discovering the actual cause of the derailment, but al so with the aim of devising means to prevent a recurrence. “The safety factor on the railways in New Zealand is a very high ohe,” he said, and the administration admits of no risks in that connexion.”

■ Asked whether such derailments had any significance as to the safety of passenger trains, Mr Sterling said the rolling stock concerned in the Kiokio accident was goods rolling stock of the four-wheel type and was radically different from passenger rolling stock. . A -erv hi eh degree of care was exercised in connexion with | passenger roll ing stock. The Main Trunk Carriages were submitted to a most rigid examination before being allowed to depart from the starting stations and they were also very carefully examined at the various stations en route. ' “Experience is the best test ■>? Die j Railway Department's success .in maintaining an effective standard of safe working,” .said Mr ■Sterling, “and the neei.lento which have occurred through the faulty working of the Departments passenger rolling stock have been ml over a wing period of years. Th's remrd speak- for itself and should remove any feeling that may be engen-

dered as a result of such an accident as has occurred at Kiokio that there is any real risk attached to the running of passenger trains.”