HASTE, AND SPEED BY RAIL!

NZ Truth, Issue 1149, 8 December 1927, Page 6

HASTE, AND SPEED BY RAIL !

THE Railway Department, m its infinite wisdom, has .speeded up the trains on several lines; but the desire to save time should not take the place of commonsense precaution. ■ Between Dunedin and Waitati is. a dangerous stretch of rail, which, after leaving Port Chalmers, runs along the edges of steep banks and precipices. The speed, on parts of this line, is, to put it mildly, a bit high. Only a few days ago, there was a loud "crack" of straining woodwork and a sickening, rowing sway as a firstclass smoker negotiated a bend near Waitati at far too many miles per hour. Even four hard-bitten commercial travellers looked up from their game — it wasn't poker — and declared that, all things considered, they would either give up travelling or live better lives. As may be easily imagined, the effect upon lady passengers is far from pleasant. There is, m Dunedin, a lady who wrote her name and address on a card — just m case — when the train was going over this part of the. journey.