THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22354, 30 August 1934, Page 12

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY

TO THE EDITOR Slit—Surely it it time for somethin" to be done regarding the Central Otago railway service. As a constant traveller on this line, it is beyond my comprehension how the people of. Central Otago have endured this deplorable railway service. Why should the Central Otago residents be inflicted with all the cast-off carriages from other lines, and engines which are frequently breaking down? Last week 1 had the misfortune to be travelling on this line, and on entering a second-class compartment was confronted with an •obsolete carriage of the long-seat variety. On these hard, uncomfortable seats we were expected to make the long, tiresome journey, and I think that to expect people to travel under such conditions is an insult which one is not likely to forget. When the railway authorities provide comfortable accommodation they may then hope to gain the support of those who now travel by private car or motor service. And I think it would be a much better plan if, instead of wasting money by ereetiii" advertisements such as electric trains with "Travel In Comfort,” and so forth, illuminating the town, they used the money to better advantage by providing Central Otago with a comfortable railway service.—l am, etc.. Why Travel By Kail?

[The letter has been referred to the Railways the passenger and mixed train between Dunedin and Cromwell is supplied with chair-seated cars, and the 11.40 a.m. goods train to Ranfurly, which has a pussender car is supplied with a similar type of carriage. At times at is necessary to place a car in the shops for repairs, and it is not always convenient to replace it with a chair-seated car, though this is done when possible. In regard to the complaint concerning the engines, the district engineer states that the bridges and viaducts on the lower portion of the Central Otago line were built a good many years ago, and arc not strong enough to carry a heavier class of engine than that used at present. Work is already in hand, however, on the strengthening, of these bridges with a view to putting Q class engines—engines of a heavier type —on the hue, and it is expected that by April this will have been completed as far as Middlemarch. The work will be continued on the remaining section, and it is intended ultimately to use Q class engines on the whole length of the line. — Ei)., O.D.T.]