TRAIN CONTROL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3641, 21 May 1927, Page 1

TRAIN CONTROL

GOOD AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM

MAY BE INTRODUCED HERE,

AUCKLAND, May 17

Alter a three months’ study of train traffic control in South Australia and Victoria, Mr E. S. Brittenden, of the New Zealand Railway Dopa rtment, came back !».y the Ulimaroa to-day. Associated with Mr Brittenden on his inquiries was Mr ,J. F. W. Smith, also of the head office, who will he back in tire Dominion by the next Sydney boat. Mr Brittenden says that the system used in South Australia and Victoria i 6 an excellent one. Without it, ho is doubtful whether the volume of traffic could be adequately controlled. The system briefly is this:—All traffic is governed by a control officer, who is stationed at a central office. A (special type of telephone, known as the selecta telephone, is used. If there are 30 stations on the line they are all connected by telephone with the central office. At no time can one substation talk to another sub-station. Conversation is restricted and can be carried on only with the centra! station and any one of the substations. By this system the control officer knows within a minute exactly where a certain train is. When it leaves one of the substations the operator there telephones immediately to the eont.ro 1 officer, who has a chart in front of him whereby lie can trace the progress of the train.

“This particular system is being used in many countries.’’ said. Mr Brittenden. “It is most effective, and without it I hardly think that a hie: amount of traffic could he coped villi.” ft is possible that the New Zealand railways will adopt the system shortly. It is proposed to try it out from Wellington to Martnn in tire North Island and from Christchurch to Oaiuaru in the south. Possibly it will not he used on all lines. Those lines that carry the most traffic will he controlled for a start.