Faster rail services

Press, 22 October 1983, Page 9

Faster rail services

Wellington reporter Faster overnight rail freight services have been started between Christchurch and Wellington and between Christchurch and Invercargill, said Railways commercial manager, Mr I. Ambler, yesterday. Unit and containerised freight delivered at the Waltham yard by 2 p.m. would be available for collection at Wellington at 8 a.m. the next day, he said. Rescheduling of the existing Wellington-Christchurch overnight express would save two hours on the return trip. Freight would be deliv-

ered in Christchurch by 8.30 < a.m. instead of by 10.30 ; a.m., Mr Ambler said. < The new Christchurch-In-vercargill service had also I been rescheduled to provide ] an Invercargill delivery by ; 9 a.m., an improvement of i several hours on the previ- 1 ous early afternoon deliv- ; ery. I Mr Ambler said the im- i provements were part of a i programme to better meet customer needs. i Railways will also intro- I duce a door-to-door pick-up 1 and delivery freight service, starting on November 1. I The service will function ! from 27 main freight termi- I nals. Railways will use priv- |

ately-owned road carriers as a 'bridge between the customer and rail head. The advantage to the customer will be that one telephone call will make all the arrangements. The goods will be picked up from the home, office, or business and be delivered direct to the address required. After delivery there will be one account to be paid. Railways will pay the road carrier and charge the customer the inclusive fee. The new service is meant to complement the existing service available from the freight-forwarding companies.