Railway Crossings and Traffic Delays.
Page 47
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The extent to Which railway crossings can, and do, impede road traffic has been exemplified by a census recently taken by the Llanelly Borough Council.
A statistical report on the subject has now been prepared for the council's
perusal. The census was taken in the period from July 25th to July 80th, both dates inclusive, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
In the period the gates of the Station Road crossing were closed for railway purposes for 25 hrs. 13 mins. out of a total of 72 hrs. In all the gates were closed no fewer than 639 times to permit the passage of 270 passenger trains, 157 goods trains and 809 shuritings. The closing of the gates resulted in delays to 593 private motorcars, 1,110 commercial vehicles of all descriptions, 1,910 motor and pedal cycles, 523 horsedrawn vehicles, 401 trucks and barrows and 0,546 vehicle and foot passengers, in addition to causing 6,942 other foot passengers to cross by the footbridge. The gates were closed 115 times for a period of not more than a minute, 236 times for between one and two minutes, 145 times f or between two and three minutes, 77 times for between three and four minutes, 41 times for between four and five minutes, 14 times for between five and six minutes, six times for between six and seven minutes, 'twice for between seven and eight minutes, once for between nine and ten minutes and on one occasion for twelve minutes.
Compared with fl censns taken in 1894, it was found that four times as many vehicles were delayed this year. Strong representations are being made lo the Great Western Railway Co. against the cases of delay beyond three minutes.
Eastbourne and One-way Traffic.
Reporting on a suggestion concerning a one-way traffic scheme, the Chief Constable of Eastbourne says that, in his opinion, the time ig not yet ripe for such a system, which can only be justified in the event of frequent congestion of traffic under present conditions. The plan would inevitably cause strong opposition from shopkeepers. No doubt some system of one-way traffic will have to be considered in the future if motor traffic continues to increase as it has done during the past few years. Ile thinks that an improvement might be effected in traffic conditions if motorbuses did not stop at corners or crossings.