FIRST ELECTRIC TRAIN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 July 1938, Page 7

FIRST ELECTRIC TRAIN.

WELLINGTON- TO JOHNSONVILLE. l±Jy Telegraph—Press Association,) ~... WELLINGTON, Last Night, C.utting a ribbon stretched across the in front of the first set of coaches, Mrs. D. G. Sullivan, wife of the Minister, of Railways, officially opened the multiple unit electric train service between .Wellington and Johnsonville on Saturday afternoon. The inaugural ceremony, at which the Minister of Railways presided, was attended by the Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash) and the Minister Of Health (Hon. P. Fraser). Speakers emphasised the importance of electric traction on the suburban line and said the introduction of a modern, fast and regular train service would greatly increase the prosperity of the areas served.

A few minutes after the cutting of . the ribbon, the first scheduled train consisting of two power coaches and two driving trailers with the official party, and visitors and passengers departed tor ' Johnsonville. The departure of the Strain and its arrival at the intermediate stations of Ngaio and Khandallah was marked by considerable enthusiasm. Hundreds of people lined every vantage point at the Wellington Station and watched the long train of blue and silver gliSe smoothly and quickly away. ' The Minister of Railways operated Ithe controlling lever until the train was clear of the platform when he handed it over to the regular driver. The stations on the route the Johnsonville wore decorated with flags and buntings and the platforms were thronged With people. At Johnsonville, 17£ minutes after leaving Wellington, the first train was cheered by the crowd and an official wel- : come was extended by the chairman .(Mr. G. A. Lawrence) and members ot the Johnsonville Town Board. Though several trips were made on Saturday afternoon and again to-day the new passenger time-table will not come into operation until to-morrow. Event of National Significance Described by the Minister of Railways (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) as an event of national significance, the official opening ceremony at Wellington station was attended by hundreds of people. Long before 2.30 p.m., the tiine nppo.mcd for the beginning of the ceremony, a big crowd had gathered on the plat/forms adjacent to ihaf-whero the ceremony was to be weather remained fine, though dull and overcast, with a keen north-westerly wind. Invitation-holders only were admitted for the Opening ceremony, but after the departure of the first train the plat- . form barriers wore opened and many ' people were taken for trips in subsequent trains. ,

. The noAv railcar Aotea, the electric locomotive for the Wellington-Paekaka-riki line, passenger coaches of improved design and equipment and other power units indicating the rapid progress now being made in railway construction were on view at the station.. Mr. S. Corywright, of Corywright and Salmon, Limited, Noav Zealand representative of the English Electric Company, presented Mrs. Sullivan with a pair of golden scissors with which to .sever the blue and white ribbon ;m front of the first multiple unit to lie dispatched for JohnsonviKe. He also presented the Minister of Eaihvays with a starter handle with Avhich the motor unit Avas driven. Mr, CciryAvright said the English Electric Company had also supplied •electric rolling stock for the LytteltonChristchurch section and the Otira tunnel. On the route the school children, Avho greeted? the first multiple unit at the Various stations between Wellington and Johnsonville, were delighted Avhen the second and suosequent trains arrived during the afternoon. The full quota of multiple units, consisting of six power coaches and six trailers, Avere operated as three trains and several trips Avere made from Wellington to Ngaio and from Wellington to Johnsonville. The children, who for many, 1 '■weeks past had enviously watched the electric trains climbing the grade to Johnsonville in the course of their trials, were thrilled when invited to make trips in the hcav coaches. The souvenir tickets issued by the Eailways Department Avere greatly in demand by the children. When the first train reached Johnsonville there was scarcely standing room available on the station platform. The oroAvd thronged and packed its way to the leading car, from Avhich the. Minister’ of Eailways and other members, of Cabinet stepped out. Mr. G. A. Lawrence, chairman of the Johnsonville ToAvn Board, congratulated the Government and the Eailways Department on the introduction of electric traction to the Johnsonville line, and the Cabinet Ministers and General Manager of Eailways (Mr. G. H. Mackley) replied to the: welcome and expressed appreciation of the enthusiasm already shown for the new service. Jtwas a. wonderful occasion, said Mr. Macidey, and he would take the opportunity of expressing his appreciation of the courtesy he had received when the preliminary discussions were carried out with the representatives of the district. At one time, said Mr. Mackley, ’ the Eailways Department was carrying two-thirds, of the people and receiving only one-third of the revenue, while private transport was conveying onetMrd of the people in the district and receiving two-thirds of the revenue. T’he multiple units, he said, were the most nipdern electric trains in the world. They were not. only the same ns the -trains used’on the London nn.ierground.' but-, contained modern i-mnrovements of more recent construction. i