THE SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20867, 8 May 1931, Page 10

THE SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY.

The announcement of an entirely new scheme for the justification of the South Island east coast railway project has been forecast by ]\lr. Healey, member for one of the districts particularly interested. In its present shape, the construction of the railway, according to published departmental reports, offers no attractions for passenger traffic. The journey from Christchurch, via Lyttelton, to "Wellington takes less than 12 hours, the running of the ferry steamers being adjusted to terminal connections rather than regulated by practicable speed. It was estimated that with a trainferry connection across Cook Strait, the Christchurch-Picton route could be traversed in 13 hours, but the train-ferry idea having been jettisoned as fantastic, the actual prospect is n journey extending over a day and a-half, including a night spent in Picton. In either event, the fare would be substantially higher. Now Mr. Healey declares that the "Railways Department has discovered a plan to reduce the journey to seven hours, at a fare lower than the present charge on the ferry steamer. It is obviously too ambitious. A railway journey of 222 miles, over tracks including steep gradients, and a sea crossing of 52 miles cannot be accomplished in seven hours, even without allowance for delays by transhipment and stress of weather. Even the ferry run between Lyttelton and Wellington of 173 miles could not be economically performed in the time. The excess of ion miles by the Picton route is probably the explanation of the plan of which Mr. Healey has obtained an unduly picturesque impression. It suggests that in a belated attempt to justify the reckless expenditure upon the completion of a main trunk railway from Bluff to Picton, the department has suggested that a considerable section of the railway should be eliminated by building the line to a new port on the east coast. A glance at the map suggests that if the natural conditions are suitable for terminal facilities. Cape Campbell is the nearest point of embarkation from the South Island to Wellington. It is doubtful whether such a scheme would appeal to Blenheim and Picton. which would be definitely sidetracked by its adoption. Nor has it any real superiority over the present undertaking. The length of new line In he constructed from Parnassus northward would not be less and the cost of a harbour would have to be added.