THE RAILWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1937, Page 10

THE RAILWAYS

GREATER FACILITIES

ESTIMATES FOR 1937

WORKS;IN PROSPECT

(By' "The 'Post's" Special Reporter.)

• Tentative' proposals for capital and renewals -expenditure by the Railway Department;."during the financial year commencing April 1,. 1937, were outlined by,the Minister of Railways (the Hon.''D;-G. Sullivan) in an address to " the/railwaymen : of Palmerston North yesterday. The .Minister emphasised that ■.these estimates had not yet been \ considered by; Cabinet, but his! purpose in placing them before the men: was to indicate to them and to the. public that the Government was planning f6r;the expansion and improvement, of railway facilities in keeping with the,growing requirements of the Dominion.. He further stated that' this expenditure was desirable to enable'the Department to function efficiently, as the main, transport organisation^ in New Zealand. "VI- have been informed by .the General Manager. Mr. G. H. Mackley," saM Mr. Sullivan, "that the Railway Department's -estimates prepared for the, Government's consideration for expenditure on new works, renewals, and, replacements during the financial year commencing on April 1, 1937, amount to approximately £3,500,000. Of the-.total.'amount, £1,610,000 is required for rolling stock, £1,427,000 for way. and 'works, £289,000 for track renewals,-£191,000 on signal and electrical equipment, £ 166,000 for workshops,, and £72,000 for road services. "■"Considerable additions to the present rolling stock are planned, also substantial.improvements to the existing stock. A total of £105,000 is asked for-to, provide, new livestock wagons in, both the' North and South Islands, and a"sum :of ;£380,000 would be required tor-the supply- of 1200 new steel general merchandise open goods wagons ..of ..the. general utility type. Other 'hew work proposed includes ten 'X'- locomotives for the North Island and sixi-for; the South Island. There are,alsor92:new cars and brake vans to.be, built as- well as a total of 1736 wagons.,:'of, all classes, including the livestock' and steel general merchandise wagons'already referred to. Further large items of expenditure recommended include £180,000 for duplication, 'and increased siding accommodation in..: the' Auckland district between Papakura and Horotiu to complete the' duplication of the railway from Auckland to Frankton Junction. A 1 similar-amount is estimated for the Turakina-Okoia deviation near Wanganui, and: £150,000 is required for the new Christchurch station. ' ' HDTT WORKSHOPS. ' , "An;'arriouiit;of £230,000 is to be spent'on providing 303 houses at various; stations,'and £166,000.is proposed fpr;b"uildings, and-plant at the various railway'workshops, including £34,000 at'Otahiihu. '£'63,000 at Hutt, £43,000 at'^aMingforT, and £16,000 at Hillside. "Other items of expenditure estimated1 include :£ 105,000 for Wellington station.' '.building and yards, and £'1*59,000 for; bridge strengthening and renewal,' 'including overbridges. Provision is made, for £80,000 for grade easernents'on various sections, and £ 13,000 for* 'hot water services to railway hqii'ses.'' ' • '""'. V ' $; sum of £■ 150,000 is estimated fcr raifeats j and' '£40.000 for rail-car sheds.'"'..' '' .;.,' ':- '■ \' ''The principal -t eatures of signalling expenditure proposed include £52,000 for; safety appliances on the Stratford-Okahukura-Taumarunui line, and £4Q,Q06- on the Papakura-Horotiu dupliqation. A'sum of' £205,000 is re-quired-for• electric locomotives on the Wellihgton-Paekakariki and Arthur's Pass:Otira lines, < and for multiple-unit coaches.on,the Wellihgton-Johnsonville line; : , •:.' ~-...." ... ."The programme proposed includes also many .improvements at stations throughout the whole railway system. Thei^e/are':station rearrangements at various places, extensions of crossing loops to.fakeithe- longer trains to be handled by'the use of more powerful locomotives'.-improved. stockyard facilities a ' for handling livestock at stations, better access for passengers when required, water service improvements, more up:to-date facilities at locomotive andlcar.and .wagon depots, new and im-proved-goods, sheds, new turntables to take/larger locomotives in the South Island,> and'improved telephone and telegraph", circuits and signalling facilities, and .safety, appliances in various parts of the Dominion. ' 'iThe'governing principle in the preparation; of these estimates has been to provide-adequate facilities to meet the transport''needs of the country's primary and '.secondary industries, to raise still.further:the safety and comfort factors jn .-the of passengers, and, generally, to make the railways an increasingly- efficient instrument for meeting the .whole of the transport requirements of the public."