Railway Services
Sir, —In “The Press” I read that the Minister of Railways said that dining-cars would be impossible on New Zealand railways because of the narrow gauge and sharp turns He was speaking after a visit to British Railways, which run on a gauge of 4ft Bjin, compared with our 3ft 6in. In my opinion the Minister has come to an unfavourable conclusion after an incomplete investigation. East African Railways also run on a 3ft 6in gauge, and at 8000 ft possess the highest main line in the British Commonwealth. The line in places follows a tortuous route at least the equal of anything found in New Zealand. Nevertheless, the Mombasa-Nairobi train, which covers a journey of over 300 miles in 14 hours, sports two dining and one cooking car. This train generally has another dozen or so passenger vehicles. Throughout, full catering services offer the traveller a five-course meal. Rhodesia and South African Railways on a metre gauge—a marginal difference —provide similar catering services. —Yours etc., J. R. WHITE. Wellington, June 2, 1966.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 16
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175Railway Services Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 16
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