Demand Exceeds Aramoana Capacity

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30803, 15 July 1965, Page 23

Demand Exceeds Aramoana Capacity

(New Zealand Press A:

WELLINGTON, July 14.

Acceptance of north-bound railway freight has been restricted to match the capacity of the Aramoana ferry service to handle the traffic, the General Manager of Railways (Mr A. T. Gandell) said today.

The demand for northbound waggon accommodation had now reached such proportions that restricting freight had become imperative. Since the Railways Department ferry resumed service after annuail survey last month, exceptionally heavy traffic from the South Island to the North Island had resulted in demand far exceeding the Aramoana’s capacity to carry rail-borne goods across Cook Strait, Mr Gandell said.

“It appeared the exceptional demand had arisen from the holding-back of traffic while the vessel was undergoing survey,” he said. Mr Gandeli said he thought

the restrictions would be most noticeable during the next week or two but he did not expect they would be very severe once the normal flow of traffic was resumed. He said the department would do its utmost to honour obligations to contract customers and to consignors of regular traffic.

Rationing of waggons for north-bound intentsiand truffle would be confined as far as possible to the casual customer.

“The Aramoana wilt continue to be used to its maximum capacity, and restrictions on the acceptance of traffic wM be no more than necessary to ensure expeditious transit of consignments," Mr Gandeil said.