25 RAIL-CARS ARE ON ORDER FOR N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 28 February 1949, Page 8

25 RAIL-CARS ARE ON ORDER FOR N.Z.

80-PASSENGER CAPACITY

WELLINGTON, Feb 23. The general manager of railways, Mr F. W. Aickin, was questioned about a report that a through railcar service between Wellington and Parapara umu would be introduced soon. Mr Aickin said he did not know what had occasioned the hope, as there were no rail-cars to spare. Twenty-five rail-cars were on order, but it would be two years before they would begin to arrive. He said that the first rail-car in New Zealand had been an experimental one on the West Coast. It has been run in conjunction with deliveries of morning newspapers. Because of this rail-car’s popularity, improved types had been built, and the fleet was increased to 21 railcars. In 1936 six cars of the Wairarapa class were introduced, and in 1939 six of the standard type were put into operation. They were followed in 1940-41 bv nine of the Vulcan type. The main advantages of rail-cars lay in their one-man control, speed, better passenger comfort and suitability for handling traffic where it would be uneconomical to run a steam engine, added Mr Aickin. Railcars were principally intended to cater for long-distance traffic. When the new cars arrived, there would be a redistribution of the present cars, so that the fleet' would be used to the best advantage, but it was too early to say yet where the need for them would be greatest. The 25 rail-cars on order, said Air Aickin, would each seat 80 passenger, coYnpared with the 48 to 60 accommodated by the various types now in use.