HUNGARIAN RAILROAD IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEAK FALL TRAFFIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700030530-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 6, 2011
• Sequence Number: 530
• Publication Date: December 24, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release
CLASSIFICATION R0TRICTED ?iw tHIs i:J
SECURITY INFORMATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
COUNTRY Hun3ary
SUBJECT Transportation - Rail
HOW
PUBLISHED Weekly newspaper
WHERE
PUBLISHED Budapest
DATE
PUBLISHED 12 Aug 1951
LANGUAGE
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1951
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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Kozlekedesi Kozlony, Vol VII, No 32, 1951.
HUNGARIAN RAILROAD IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEAK FALL TRAFFIC
Lajos Bebri,ts, Minister of Communications and Post, gave a detailed account
of the extraordinary tasks confronting the Hungarian State Railroads in connec-
tion with the peak fall traffic at the National Conference of Railroad Workers,
held at Budapest on 4 and 5 August 1951.
The minister emphasized that this year, substantially larger volumes of
agricultural products, especially grains, fruit, vegetables, sugar beets, and
potatoes, have to be transported by rail than in 1950. The sugar-beet crop,
for example, is estimated to be 90-95 percent greater than last year's. At the
same time. the volume of industrial products will increase 30 percent. Materials
required for large construction projects and building activities will also con-
tribute to the complex problems of rail transportation.
As a result, the number of freight cars to be leaded daily will increase from
last year's 10,000 to 14,000-15,000. These requirements necessitate the reduc-
tion of car turnaround time to 3 days or less during the fall season.
Problems of fall traffic are threefold: endeavors of the enemy to hi. der
the success of the work must be defeated; slow railroad employees must be prodded;
and necessary space and equipment must be made available prier to the beginning
of fall traffic. The government and the party extended a h=.;;.ng hand to the rail-
road workers by making right, Sunday, and holiday loai'..nga c:acpulsory. This
regulation must be enforced more strictly than last year. primarily in the coun-
try.
Although the rolling stock has not been increasdi substantially, t.. achani-
cal condition of locomotives is much better than in :.ad t: ac. g and ,n.
stallattons have also shown improvement. Few tracks were built and the number of
industrial sidings was increased. Additional mechanical traffic-control equipment
was also purchased, and new automatic safety devices were installed.
STATE
ARMY
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1ESTRRCT',
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Preparedness of the railroad is better than in 1950; the 130,000 employees
have gained more experience +.'.nd received more political indoctrination. Now the
State Railroads have more female workers whose services will be available during
the coming fall season. The existing work methods; however, should be improved,
new methods should be introduced, and defects should be eliminated. Service
based on a 24-hour traffic plea will soon be initiated and time spent on freight
car repairs will be reduced with the introduction of two or three shifts. The
overwhelming majority of the workers are well trained and ready for the peak fall
season. Twelve million forints' worth of bonuses will be distributed among those
who contribute most to the success of train operations.
After the minister's speech the conference accepted a resolution containing
the following pledges of the wor.ers:
1. Average car turnaround time will be reduced to 3.1-3.6 days in September,
to 3.0-3.4 days in October, to 3.1-3.5 days in November and, if necessary, to less
than 3 days.
2. In the 2,000-ton movement, 50,000 tons more will be transported daily,
and the number of 2,000-ton trains will be increased to 250 daily.
3. During the peak season, 300 express freight trains will be operated
daily.
4. Delays of freight trains will be reduced by 25-40 percent.
5. Average daily kilometer performance of locomotives will be increased to
155 kilometers, while the average daily kilometer performance of locomotives in
the 500-kilometer movement will be boosted to 190 kilometers.
6. The number of fast trains will be increased to 150 daily.
7. Average speed of freight trains will e increased from last year's 14
kilometers per hour to 17.5 kilometers per hour.
8. Delays of passenger trains will be reduced to an over-all average of
4.5 percent, while delays of trains transporting workers will be reduced to one
percent.
9. Freight car loading space will be increased gradually to 14.5 tons.
10. Damagesto freight during transit will be reduced from the present 0.8
percent to 0.5 percent.
11. For better cooperation with shipping companies, the number of train-crew
brigades will be increased to 1,200 *y 15 December, and these brigades will'be
joined by 3,500 shipping enterprises.
12. Plans to save 150,000 tons of coal in 1951 will be compl_ d. with during
the fall season, while savings is other nrt'.erials and rcw.?r will amount to 2-7 per-
cent.
13. Average time to be spent on car repairs from September to November will
be reduced from the present 7 percent to 5 percent.
14. The number of locomotives unfit for traffic will be reduced by 25 percent
as compared to the second quarter of the year.
15. Washing of locomotives will be done after longer runs and eventually after
runs of 10,000 kilometers per locomotive.
RESTR1CTE3
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16. For reasons of economy and speed, traffic will be carried out accord-
ing to a 24-hour plan.
Gyorgy Ceanadi, general director of the Hungarian State Railroads told the
conference that while car loadings during the peak fall season will be increased
by 30 percent, the freight-car stock will be enlarged by only 5 percent. The
task of the railroad 4s so much greater, because the large-scale traffic must
be carried out economically. During the fall seaso:., priority of freight over
passenger traffic, resulting in delays of passenger and commuter trains, cannot
be tolerated again.
Freight trains and cars are not being utilized advantageously. Car turnaround
time must be reduced and loitering and wasting of time must be eliminated..
To ensure the success of the peak traffic season, stern regulations are needed,
but enforcement will be elastic. For example, uniform loading deadlines will
not be established on all goods. At the same time, the railroad will effectively
assist the shippers in loading and unloading and, where feasible, it will assume
the responsibility of loading. The railroad will give advice to shippers in
advance, especially where agricultural goods are involved.
Finally, the general director called upon the railroad workers to enter into
competitions to assure the success of the fall traffic season.
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