INNOVATION ON RAILWAYS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22430, 17 June 1938, Page 10

INNOVATION ON RAILWAYS

ELECTRIC MULTIPLEUNIT TRAIN (PRESS ASSOCIATION TZUOXiU.) WELLINGTON, June 16. The operation of electric multipleunit passenger transport bn the Wellington-Johnsonville line will begin with the departure of the 6.35 a.m. train from Wellington, on Monday, July 4, and the inaugural ceremony for the introduction of the service will be held on Saturday, July 2, at 2.30 p.m., according to a statement by the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G, Sullivan) today. “The inauguration of multipleunit electric traction on the Wel-lington-Johnsonville line—the first of its kind in New Zealand —is an important occasion for the people of the districts concerned, and will, I feel sure, be welcomed by them and by local bodies and organisations which for many years have kept the transport needs of their districts prominently before the Government and the public. I feel confident that in the electric mul-tiple-unit trains to be used on this line, and in the time-table arranged, very welcome improvements in the passenger transport needs of the community resident in this area will be effected.” Arrangements are being made for the new standard rail-car Aotea, as well as the new electric locomotive for the Wellington-Paekakariki line and other types of railway passenger and power units, to be on view at the Wellington station for the opening ceremony on July 2.