REPLACEMENT OF WAGGONS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27907, 2 March 1956, Page 12

REPLACEMENT OF WAGGONS

RAILWAYS INCREASE ORDER (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 1. An order of 1550 new general-pur-pose “LC” goods waggons has been increased by the New Zealand Railways Department to 2300. It was intended to build 800 of the waggons at the Addington Workshops, but all will now be imported for assembly in New Zealand. “It has become obvious that the original order will not be enough to cope with the sharply-rising increase in general goods traffic,” said the Minister of Railways (Mr J. K. McAlpine) today.

In 1955 goods traffic increased 7.25 per cent., compared with an average increase of .38 per cent, over the previous three years. Action had therefore been taken promptly to forestall stresses on rolling stock, particularly in peak seasonal traffic requirements, for such commodities as lime, manure, coal, timber, and cement.

Mr McAlpine said that the original order for 1550 waggons was part of the 1955-1958 waggon-building programme. based on increases in business expected at that time, and on expected losses through scrapping of old waggons.

Since then losses through scrapping had been heavier than expected, the steel supply position had deteriorated, and there had been heavy losses in Addington Workshops staff. As these factors would cause an impossible delay in completing the increased order it would be necessary to import all 2300 waggons for assembly in New Zealand.

Deliveries were expected to begin in January, 1957, and would be spread over 1957. The preliminary assssed cost of 1550 waggons in 1954 was £1,336.000. Tenders now received indicated that the cost of 2300 waggons would be £2,471,750, including freight (£276,000) and cost of assembly in New Zealand (£175.500).