COOK STRAIT FERRY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29468, 21 March 1961, Page 10

COOK STRAIT FERRY

Bookings By Telephone

A motorist calling at any railway station through-out New Zealand will be able to obtain “on-the-spot” confirmation of booking space on the Cook Strait ferry, when it comes into operation in the latter half of next year. This would be possible through the railways telenhone system, said Mr I. Thomas, commercial manager of the Railways Department, speaking at the New Zealand Carriers’ Federation conference yesterday. With no railway waggons aboard, the ferry could ship 120 to 135 cars, 80 on the main deck and about 40 on an upper half-deck, said Mr Thomas.

The ferry could take 1100 passengers, 600 of whom could be accommodated in covered seating during the three-hour trip from Picton to Wellington. Passengers would have lounge, cafeteria, and bar services.

A daily return trip would be run. and at peak periods, a double return trip. Expected Launching

The ferry was expected to be launched at Dumbarton, Scotland, in July or August, and delivery was expected in New Zealand about the middle of next year, Mr Thomas said. The main vehicle deck would have set-in, flush rails for railway waggons, with a capacity of 34 LC or 38 LA waggons, plus 12 to 16 cars, or their equivalent in lorry or trailer space, Mr Thomas said. The upper half-deck was for cars only. The present intention was to fix the carriage charges for the ferry as a separatelycosted identity, Mr Thomas said. Charges would be fixed on an economic basis, taking into account all the costs of running the vessel. “We will endeavour to fix a scale of charges which will make it an even choice for people who want to send goods by road truck,” Mr Thomas said.

“The department will have to use all its facilities and resources to bring together sufficient rail freight to make the ferry a payable proposition,” he said. “I think that can only be done if we can eliminate handling costs at both ends. We can do that, and I think we will.” “Railway Thinking”

Did that aim of eliminating handling costs at either end of a route—for instance, between Auckland and Hamilton—represent Railways Department thinking asked a questioner.

Mr Thomas: Provided the department could supply -the means for the trucks to go on, yes.

Did the Railways Department intend to take steps to have the ferry declared a notional or “phantom” railway? asked a second questioner. Mr Thomas: No.

What was the position about carrying livestock in road trucks on the ferry? asked another questioner. “To be quite frank about it. we are just lying low on that one,” replied Mr Thomas.

But provided the stock was well enclosed, he thought there would be no difficulty. He anticipated “no difficulty” with horse floats, for instance.

Stock trucks, provided they were well enclosed, and there were no cars on the main deck, might be all right, but people did not want to be sitting in their cars alongside the smells of stock waggons, Mr Thomas said.

An American journalist reported that cows in Japan say “moe,” cats mew “niago” and dogs go “wung wung.”