TRAM LOADING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26617, 13 November 1947, Page 6

TRAM LOADING

Number of Passengers Limited EFFECT OF NEW REGULATIONS x Under the new Tramway Carriage Regulations just gazetted, the number of people Dunedin trams and cable cars will be permitted to carry will be substantially reduced. The regulations limit the number of passengers standing in tram cars and cable cars to 75 per cent of the total seating accommodation. The new regulations will no doubt cause serious inconvenience, particularly to city workers, women shoppers, and school children.

The limitation of the number of passengers standing will no doubt result in many people being left lamenting at the tram stops to wait for the next car. Takapuna cars, the large type used on the Anderson’s Bay, St. Clair, and Normanby routes, provide seating accommodation for 54 passengers, but at peak times they have been crammed to the steps with standing passengers numbering over 100. Under the new regulations only 40 people standing will be able to travel on the cars. In the smaller cars seating is available for 26, 34, and 36 passengers, so that the number standing will be limited to 19, 25, and 27 respectively. In addition, the regulations prohibit under any conditions the carriage of any person on the motorman’s platform, and this will also restrict the number of passengers trams will be able to carry. Among the most seriously affected services will be the cable cars. The Mornington car seats 32 persons and the Rosiyn car 36, and under the regulations the maximum number of people allowed to stand will be 24 and 27 respectively. At peak times the Rosiyn cable car carries up to 100 passengers seated, standing and clinging. The record load is believed to have been 128—125 on the car and three on the roof. The task of the conductor in keeping the number of persons standing down to 27 will be an unenviable one, fortin the usual scramble for positions it will be almost impossible to judge the first 27 and to remove the surplus dozens. Standard Safety Equipment The new regulations have been njade under the Tramways Act of 1908, and after full agreement in conference between the tramway authorities, the Transport Department, the Public Works Department, and the New Zealand Tramways Employees’ Union. They embrace such matters as passenger accommodation, the duties of passengers, and standard safety equipment and procedure for all tramway centres. An inspecting engineer of the Public Works Department will inspect each tram car and cable car, and licences will be issued stating the number of passengers that may be carried in each car and in each compartment of a car. Seating accommodation will be measured at the rate of “ one passenger for each complete 16 inches of the longitudinal measurement of each seat.” Conductors may forbid passengers, to board trams already carrying the maximum permissible load, and also to enter any portion of a tramcar which already carries the maximum load allowed for that portion. The duties of passengers are also clearly defined. Children over five years of age are classed as passengers and will be affected by the regulations. Standard safety equipment and long lists of appliances are specified under the regulations. Pull cords are to be provided for the use of conductors only, and separate bell or buzzer systems for passengers. In view of'a recent accident at the Exchange, a regulation stipulating the carrying of a lifting jack of sufficient power to raise one end of the tram is of interest. The provision of automatic windscreen wipers and efficient means of protecting the driver’s vision against brilliant light, natural or artificial, is also stipulated. Rear-view mirrors to give motormen a clear view along the near side of the tram must also be fitted as from April 1. but if this equipment cannot be provided an extension of the time limit may be sought from the Minister. Safety glass in front of the motorman’s seat is stipulated, but time is allowed for the fitting of it to all trams._ Braking requirements and a speed limit of 30 miles per hour are stipulated Effect on Transport System Although the engineer-manager of the Transport Department. Mr L. C. Greig, has not yet fully studied the regulations, he considers it unlikely that all of the provisions can be fulfilled at short notice. Mr Greig stated that he did not anticipate putting on additional trams to cope with passengers at peak periods, and those who could not be accommodated would have to wait for later cars. It would be some time, he said, before all the requirements under the new regulations could be met. Some of the equipment stipulated was not available in the country. Sharing public opinion in northern centres. Dunedin people who are aware of the Gazette notice stated vesterday that they considered the time extremely inopportune for introducing new regulations. Thev would cause considerable inconvenience to women shoppers, and would affect both school children and workers in the rush periods. Users of cable cars are probablv the most affected by the new regulations, and'they foresee long waits at peak periods or long walks up the hill.