SPEED-UP PLANNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26639, 9 December 1947, Page 5

SPEED-UP PLANNED

WINTER TRANSPORT BRITAIN’S RAILWAY TRAFFIC HAMPERED BY SHORTAGE OF ROLLING STOCK N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 8. Warned by the disastrous experiences of last winter when a shortage of railway rolling stock and traffic jams in loading yards contributed almost as much to Britain’s industrial dislocation as did the Arctic weather and fuel cuts, the Government has undertaken extensive plans for speeding up rail transport this winter. As the result of the encouraging increase in coal production, the fuel situation this winter is now expected to be satisfactory. The _ real problem, therefore, other than the weather, is a shortage of rolling stock on the railways. At present, upwards of 200,000 railway wagons are lying in repair shops or are shunted on to side tracks in yards awaiting repairs.

The Government is tackling this problem in three ways: First, by an appeal to railway workers to do extra voluntary work at week-ends in order to expedite the unloading of trucks: secondly, by the establishment of a special Winter Transport Committee to organise winter goods traffic, and thirdly, by stepping up repairs and manufacture of new wagons. The appeal for volunteers has met with extremely good response. More than 120,000 extra wagons have been unloaded and released by volunteers during the past two week-ends. The Winter Transport Committee is chiefly designed to act as a direct link between railway companies and their customers so that unnecessary delays in discharge of rolling stock can be avoided. Its chief executive officer, General Sir Wilfred Lindsel, is acknowledged to be one of Britain’s greatest transport experts. His achievements when he kept supplies moving up with the Eighth Army from Alamein to Tripoli and beyond are still remembered and he has been given wide powers to enable him to apply successful army methods to civilian conditions.

The committee has already arranged a definite list on freight priorities in which coal stands first, followed by steel, export goods, foodstuffs and agricultural machinery. Substantial grants have been made to railway companies and local authorities to enable them to buy snow-clearing equipment. The co-operation of service departments has already been arranged and some of their heavy equipment is being adapted for snow-clearing work. A great deal is being left to the discretion of local stationmasters as it is desired to make the emergency winter measures as flexible as possible.

On the construction side it is expected that 30,000 new wagons will have been built by the end of this year and that next year another 48.000 will be added. All firms capable of undertaking wagon repairs are being assisted with material and equipment, and recently 27 new firms were established with official backing to speed the repair programme.

A detailed plan has also been devised to divert as much rail transport as possible, to coastal shipping. Britain has 30,000 tonst more coastal shipping this winter than she had last winter.

The experts in charge of these emergency measures admit that there will be a tight squeeze on British railways this winter but they are cautiously optimistic that the measures now being taken will avert a serious hold-up in the production drive. It is agreed that this will be a critical winter and that if the emergency measures are successful, the situation next year will be under much better control.