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Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1940, Page 4

Tilk news of llio arrival of the first of the long-promised rail-ears for tl.-o Cliristeluireli-Coast section, will he received with general satisfaction, and the Minister of Railways deserves to he thanked for fulfilling his promise of some time ago. At the same time there will he understanding that Mr Sullivan is not to blame for the delay. The exigencies of the war at home has delayed the fulfilling of tin* order to import, and there is thus all the more occasion to be thankful, that matters at Home in the engineering trade, have permitted the fTst instalment to be sent out, despite the heavy demands in '.Britain for all classes of engineering. The new service when installed will go some way to meet the needs of the travelling public. The small railpar in use already has payed the way

for the larger machine. The, rail-car is filled invariably to capacity, its timetable lias served the public well. Tho rail-pars are capable of a more frequent regular service, and the shortening of the time for the journey will add further to the popularity of the traffic. It, was intended to begin with two large machines, starting from each terminus simultaneously, and doing the round trip each day. It will lie possible for the single machine to do round trips daily, and if supplemented by the smaller ears as at present, will help to improve conditions in the railway transport. The “express" service is a long drawn out journey ol eight or more hours, and as tinsmall rail-car comes the same journey in six hours, the larger rail-cat may complete the round trip in five (hour journeys each way. This improvement will he a blessing to Coast traffic which is substantial even under the so called “express” service. A real express service will do much to increase the volume of traffic, and the Department will benefit by its enterprise. and the public in being better served, will lie better pleased.