RAIL TRAVEL IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22467, 30 July 1938, Page 13

RAIL TRAVEL IN AUSTRALIA

IMPRESSIONS OF MR G. H. MACKLEY ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCE OP COMMISSIONERS (riesa association trlroram.) AUCKLAND, July 29, ‘T still think the people of New Zealand have every reason to be satisfied with their railway system. This is not only my view, but also that of a number of Australians I met,” said the General Manager of Railways, Mr G. H, Maokley, upon his return to the Dominion by the Awatea. Mr Mackley visited the Commonwealth to attend the Railway Commissioners' Conference of Australia and New Zealand. The conference, which was held m Sydney, takes place every two years, and follows what is known as the officers’ conference, attended by representatives of practically au branches of the different railway systems in Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand was represented at the latter conference this year by Mr G. T. Wilson, superintendent of transportation, and Mr A. W. Wellsted, commercial manager. . The commissioners’ conference discussed a wide variety of subjects, Mr Mackley said, and the data gathered would be of great value to New Zealand. He had made an inspection of the equipment used on the Victorian and New South Wales systems, “Spirit of Progress”

What had impressed him most was the Spirit of Progress, an express tram on the Victorian section of the Mel-boume-Sydney route. Buffet cars were under construction for the speeding up of local services and the installation of modem train-control equipment in Victoria was also being proceeded with. , , .. The new £400,000 Wynyard station for suburban traffic in Sydney also greatly impressed Mr Mackley. The platforms were below the ground level and the administrative quarters above. The standard type of rail-car in New Zealand he considered was superior to anything he had seen in Australia. There were some things in Australia that could be introduced into New Zealand to Improve travelling comfort, and they would be recommended by him in a report to the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D, G. Sullivan). The nature of the improvements, Mr Mackley said, he was unable to mention.