RAILWAY TO LYTTELTON

Press, Volume C, Issue 29553, 30 June 1961, Page 16

RAILWAY TO LYTTELTON

Railwaymen Urge New Service The operation of a com. | pletely new service on the' Lyttelton line similar to the,' electrical units operating be-j tween Wellington and j Johnsonville and the scrapping of the present "antiquated passenger rolling stock” would serve to meet opposition from road transport when the road tunnel is completed. This opinion was expressed by a special general* meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, according to a report by the branch president (Mr G Fin’ayson) and the secretary (Mr A. E. Armstrong). The decision of the Gov-1 eminent to close several | i branch lines was criticised by I members of the branch. [‘‘Railwaymen fear that such |a short-term policy could [only lead to unemployment !in the railway industry," said the branch officers. “It was also felt that increasing fares would not in any way make up the cash deficiency in the Railways operating account Instead it would drive people away from rail travel, thus making the loss greater.” Messrs Armstrong and Finlayson said it must be distressing to the District Traffic Manager (Mr E. C. Brittenden and his predecessors to see years of hard work in improving the service to farmers and local industry in the Little River. Akaroa, Southbridge, and Waimate areas defeated as a result of the Government’s decision.