EAST RAIL SERVICE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 258, 28 September 1935, Page 2

EAST RAIL SERVICE

WELLINGTON-JOHNSONVILLE. £90,000 SCHEME ANNOUNCED. Per Press Association. AVELLINGTON, Sept. 27. The Railways Board has decided after careful investigation, and subject to the passing of a Bill ensuring ,to the Railways Board public transport rights in the district, to provide suitable multiple electric units for I the AVellington-Jolinsonville _ line, i which will he no longer a main line after the opening of the Tawa Flat deviation. / The overhead reticulation involved costs £90,000. Mr G. H. Mackley (General Manager of Railways) said to-night that the question of the disposal of the present line between Tliorndon and Johnsonville when the Tawa Flat deviation is brought into full use had been the chief subject of discussion between the department and the AVellington City Council for some considerable time A fast and frequent train service would be provided at half-hourly intervals, with ample additional trains to cater for morning and evening peak traffic. Tlie over-all time for the journey, including five stops, would he 20 minutes. Tlio proposal was to provide for additonal stopping places at three new points. Fares would be arranged on a sectional basis, somewhat similar to a tramway system. AA’itli the introduction of the proposed service, coincident with the opening of the new station, residents of the Ngaio-Khan-dallali-Jolinsonville area would . have transport facilities unequalled in the Dominion. It was not the intention of tlio board to discontinue the road services in the district, which would ho served by the department along those routes distant to any material extent from railway stopping places, if under the changed and improved conditions there remained any reasonable demand for such a service.

Mr Mackley stated in conclusion that, in the event of tlie line being abandoned, its residual value would bo comparatively little, consequently the hoard felt justified in discounting it as a tangible asset and bad not taken the value of the .existing track or facilities into its calculations when considering the economic aspect of the liroposal for electrification.