FOR AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 156, 3 July 1936, Page 3

FOR AUCKLAND.

RAILCAR SERVICE. FASTER TRANSPORT. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT'S PLANS. The likelihood of railcars being used for tlie fast carriage of passengers on Auckland suburban lines in the near future was liinted at by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, during his brief visit to Auckland last evening. During his present tour, on which he had already covered a thousand miles by railear, Mr. Sullivan said he had been much impressed with the speed and comfort of vehicles of this type. His late arrival at Auckland last evening, two hours behind schedule, was not due to any fault of the car, which had maintained and often exceeded its scheduled speeds, but to the fact that many unforeseen halts had to be made in order that he could receive deputations. His own experience had amply confirmed the favourable reports of' Railway Department officials on the railear service between Wellington and Lower Hutt. On this run the railcars travelled much faster than either trains or motor buses, 111 absolute safety, and offered passengers a higher standard of comfort than either. He thought that it was likely that railcars would in the near future be employed as an auxiliary to trains to speed up the local suburban services. The first would probably be placed on the southern line, to run, possibly, as far as Papakura. Asked whether the Department intended to commence in the near future the duplication of the line between Auckland and Frankton, as had been rumoured, Mr. Sullivan said that he could make no announcement yet. The project had been considered, and, he believed, favourably. However, further investigation was required, and the Government was awaiting the reports of its experts.