NEW RAIL CAR SERVICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 16

NEW RAIL CAR SERVICE

CHRISTCHURCH-WESTLAND. EXPECTATIONS SURPASSED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Performances very gratifying to the Department have been put up by the first rail car for the South Island service, which begins on Monday. The car, which is much smaller than those built for the Wairarapa, was designed particularly for a fast, almost non-stop, service between Christchurch and the West Coast, and in two days of trial runs it has made good times. Although its first trial in the South Island yesterday was really a picnic expedition, the journey from Christchurch to Hokitika and back, a distance of 340 miles, was made in nine hours. 20 minutes running time, although the car has not yet been run in. Another trial was made to-day, and the trip from Timaru to Christchurch was done in two hours eight minutes for a distance of 102 miles, an average of almost 50 lfliles an hour. Great public interest has been aroused on both trials, crowds being gathered at most of the platforms on the routes. The general manager of- railways, Mr. G. IT. Mackley, said after to-day's trial that this vehicle must be regarded as the highlight in the Department's rail car experience. The speed for such a small vehicle had surpassed the expectations of all the Departmental experts.

The return daily service to the West Coast from Christchurch is to start on Monday.