Railbuses not planned for N.Z.

Press, 9 October 1982, Page 26

Railbuses not planned for N.Z.

NZPA staff correspondent London Modern railbuses being built for British Rail were a big improvement on the old New Zealand railcars,the Minister of Transport, Mr Gairhas said.

But he sees no possibility of their early use in New Zealand. “Our role at the moment is to keep an interested watching brief,” he said after British -Rail officials briefed him on the lighweight diesel railbuses.

Britain’s Transport Minister, Mr. David Howell, recently gave British Rail the go-ahead for 40 of the railbuses at a cost of £6.8 million (about SNZIS.6 million).

The 40 vehicles, working in two-car sets, are intended as the first stage of a major construction programme. British Rail runs about 3100 diesel multiple units, mainly on local services. Most of them were built in the late 1950 s and are now

coming to the end of their life.

The railbuses, which have a four-wheel chassis, are based on a prototype developed by British Rail with British Leyland, using two bus bodies mounted back-to-back.

The basic bus body is built to incorporate railway features, including the standard driver’s cab. Powered by a 200 horse power engine, the two-car unit seats 94 passengers and is capable of speeds up to 120 km/h.. “They have cut the cost way. down and they would obviously have a useful role in a country with a dense population,” Mr Gair told NZPA.

Mr Gair said he had had useful and wide-ranging discussions with British Rail’s chairman, Sir Peter Parker, and his executives.

British Rail had agreed to make available details of some of its costings for services which were relevant to New Zealand