RAILWAY ECONOMY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1932, Page 2

RAILWAY ECONOMY

ELIMINATING COMPETITION.

SAVINGS AND PUBLIC BENEFIT.

RUGBY, 'May 28

The scheme' to eliminate competition between the London. Midland, and Scottish Railway Company • and the London and North Eastern Company has been referred for consent to the Minister for Transport Lion. P. J. Pybtis, who appointed a ■committee of three, under the chairmanship of Sir Walter Close, President of the Railway Trades Tribunal, to advise him. The companies anticipate that the agreement will enable them to make’ substantial economies and also benefit the public.

There are 19,336 miles of railways in Great Britain owned and controlled in the, following proportions: — Miles. Southern 2194 / Gregt Western 3801 London, Midland, and 7Scottish 6956 London and North Eastern ... ... 6382 Total 19,336

In order to meet the effects of the ■ world-wide economic crisis the four : railway companies last year adopted tilt' policy of closing wholly or portly | the iinrcnninerative branch lines, speeding up suburban services and also freight trains. The longest English branch tr> suffer elimnation was the ! Ashby-de-la-Zoucli and Nuneaton line, 25 miles long, with 16 stations, while in Northern Ireland the narrow gtiagc line from Londonderry to Lough Swilly, | 75 miles, with 25 stations, ceased* to run passenger trains last June. Be- | . . . caiien of diminishing prosperity—'in I 1930, for example, the receipts amountid to £181,836.382, as compared with £195,409.523 in 1929, a decrease of 1 £10,573,141 —the scale of salaries and , wages from the 'remuneration of dir- ; ectors down was reduced last year. Willi a view to encouraging-the public to “go back to the railways” a Royal Commission, in January, 1931, recommended the railway companies 'to ihlopt' The" following'* recommendations : —■ General revision and lowering of railway fares. Statutory obligation io provide a seat for each passenger at starting points of main lino trains. Greater efforts to lind seats at stations en route. Electrification of suburban services in every district where there is intensive passenger traffic. Private ownership of waggons should continue. Excursion tickets should be freed from “irritating restrictions.”