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SHOULD THE TRAMWAY SYSTEM GO?

9th March 1920, Page 2
9th March 1920
Page 2
Page 3
Page 2, 9th March 1920 — SHOULD THE TRAMWAY SYSTEM GO?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ADIFFICUI:T passenger service vehicle altogether is the electric tramcar. It has, to a large extent, the elements of utility, yet falls short at so many points. It is needed, for instance, along the main highways, in order to be so quickly available that it becomes less economical to walk than to ride, and, yet, on the highway, it is the greatest source ef obstruction and the worst sufferer from • obstructical.

The advantages of a smooth steel road on which to run are, in a large measure, outweighed by the fact that the tramcar must keep to it, and is deprived of the power of manceuvring. The permanent way is costly to install and, nowadays, terribly expensive to maintain. In London, tramcars are often being derailed because of some rail defect. There is a church wall, not far from Rosebery Avenue, that, in recent years, has been knocked down twice by cars which have left the rails on a very easy curve and old which, besides has had more than one narrow squeak. We have thought it a, case of very fast driving, but a passenger on a car, which left the rails at this spot a) week ago, told us that the vehicle was travelling at practically a slow pace. No effort has ever been made to prevent the constant recurrence of the mishaps at this spot, which strikes us as indicating a great disregard of public convenience.

The point about a mishap of this sort, and of many others which happen all day in Landon, is that great disorganization of traffic and a complete dislocation of the passenger service occur in consequence. Van wheels are, nowadays, used in a more neglected state than used to be the case—shortage of material and of labour, the enhanced cost of repairs and replacements are telling their tale—and it is no uncommon sight to come across a whole terrace of tramcars— sometimes, when both lines are obstructed, a double terrace—blocked by a broken-down van. Such an event incites very little effort on the part of the London tramway staff. One sees the drivers and conductors standing around, and can imagine them uttering their Cockney equivalent of the Arab's " imarleesh," but it never occurs to them to carry on 'with the tram service, whilst the obstruction is being cleared, by running the trains to and from it, Neither initiative nor enterprise is shown, or, to put it in another way, with a monopoly of fast rail traffic on the roads allowed to them, they do not attempt to give service to the public when a slight disturbance of their routine occurs.

Another handicap is rail position. To enable the trains to clear slow traffic and vehicles stopped at wayside houses and shops, the rails need to be in the centre of the road. Yet this, again, is wrong from the point of view of the safety and convenience of the Public desiring to use the trains, and, at the sa.ine time, one of the great causes of obstruction of other traffic. In Leicester, the authorities are think ing of diverting.the lines in toward the kerb at the stopping places. But, our advice is strongly against such a course, as other difficulties and dangers are thereby introduced. Overtaking vehicles are often compelled to try to pass a tramcar on the near side, and we have seen nasty accidents arising from a sudden and unexpected inwards swing of a tramcar towards a kerb.

We always think that the great defect of London's tramway system is the excessive power employed, conducing as it does, to fast driving and quick braking. The trams,. accordingly, are, as a rule, badly driven and often in trouble.

Mr. Worby Beaumont will, no doubt, throw a useful light on the problem of securing better passenger transport for London's streets when he lectures next week before the Society of Arts. • It is probable that a replacement of the tramcar by the omnibus will prove the best way out of the difficulty. Certainly, the tramway system should not be further extended.

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Organisations: Society of Arts
People: Worby Beaumont
Locations: London, Leicester

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