FAST TRAINS OVER SINGLE TRACK

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 12

FAST TRAINS OVER SINGLE TRACK

Difficulty In Arranging Suitable Schedules NEW RAILCAR SERVICE TO TARANAKI Difficulties experienced in arranging suitable timetables for railcars operating on fast schedules over 250 miles of single track, as in the case of the line between Wellington and New, Plymouth, were mentioned by the General Manager of Railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley, when a public meeting was held in New Plymouth on Thursday for the purpose of discussing proposed timetables for the new’ railcar service which is to be inaugurated from the New Plymouth end on Sunday, April 16. Between Wellington and New liymouth, said Mr. Mackley, the railears would make crossings with many trains, some of them slower trains travelling in the same direction. The timetables must be so arranged that only a minimum amount of delay would occur. Another factor whicu must be considered was the difficult country- between Marton and New Plymouth, with its sleep gradients and sharp curves.

Question of Daily Service.

Mr. Mackley indicated that a daily service, as a substitute for the triweekly one which the department intended running for a start, would be considered if there was sufficient patronage to warrant it. Whether a daily railcar service was inaugurated was a question which rested entirely with the business community aud the public using the service. “Nobody would be more happy about it than I,” said Mr. Mackley, “If i could go to the Minister a few weeks after the opening of the service and say there was sufficient patronage to warrant a change.” Replying to a suggestion that the railcar service might be speeded up to provide for earlier arrivals at terminal stations, Mr. Mackley said the department might consider the deletion of stops which, were to be made at certain officered stations further down the line. An alteration to the gearing of the cars would also improve their efficiency aud lessen the times taken between terminal stations. Express trains covered the 250 miles between Wellington and New Plymouth in 9 hours, 23 minutes, and the railcars would shorten that by two hours.

Tone of Meeting Praised.

In an interview after the meeting, Mr. Mackley said he was well pleased with the tone of the meeting and the expressions of opinion advanced by representatives of the various interests. As indicated by the Minister of Railways, Mr. Sullivan, on a recent visit to New’ Plymouth, everything was prepared for the introduction of the service. When the service is inaugurated railcars will leave New’ Plymouth at 3.40 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and Wellington at 5.13 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.