NEW SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1938, Page 4

NEW SERVICE.

ELECTRIC TRAINS.

ENTHUSIASTIC CROWDS.

WELLINGTON - JOHNSONVILLE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON', Sunday. By cutting a ribbon stretched across the track in front of the first set of coaches, Mrs. D. G. Sullivan, wife of the Minister of Railways, officially opened the imilti]ile-unit electric train service between Wellington and Johnsonvillc on Saturday afternoon.

The inaugural ceremony, at which Mr. Sullivan presided, was held at the Wellington railway ■station, and was attended by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, and the Minister of Health, the Hon. 1\ Fraser. Speakers emphasised the importance of electric traction on the suburban line, and said the introduction of a modern. l'a<t and regular train service would greatly increase the * prosperity of the areas served. A few minutes after the cutting of the ribbon the first scheduled train, consisting of two power coaches and two driving trailers, with the official party and visitors as passengers, departed for Johnsonvillc.

The departure of the train and its arrival at the intermcdiite stations of Xtrain and Kliandallah were marked by gunsideralile enthusiasm. Hundreds of p»H)pl(' lined every vantage point at the Wellington station and watched the Ion;; train glide smoothly and quickly a \ a v. ,

Mr. Sullivan operated the controlling lever until tlie train win clear of tin* platform, when lie handed over to the regular driver. Stations on the route to Johnsonvillc were decorated wi'h flags a iid bunting. and platforms Were thronged witli people.

At Johnsonville. 171 minutes after leaving Wellington, the first train was cheered by the crowd, and an official welcome was extended by Mr. O. A. Lawrence, chairman of the Johnsonville Town Hoard, and members of the Itoard. Though several trips were made on Saturday afternoon and again to-day. the new passenger time-table will not come into operation until to-morrow.