EXPANSION PLANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26917, 1 November 1948, Page 6

EXPANSION PLANS

RAILWAY PROGRAMME IMPROVEMENTS TO SERVICE MAIN LINE ELECTRIFICATION Spqcial to the Daily Times GREYMOUTH. Oct. 31 An announcement indicating that the existing railcars throughout the Dominion would be added to sometime early ip the hew year was made by Mr F. Aicken, general manager of the New Zealand Railways, in the course of a reply to the toast of “The New Zealand Railways ” at the Otira silver jubilee celebrations to-day. * commemorating the opening of the Otira tunnel. Mr Aicken added that many improvements to the railway service were proposed throughout the Dominion and said that very big things would happen next year, the first of which would be the electrification of the main lines as at Otira, which was the first in New Zealand. The Hutt Valley would be electrified within two and a-half years and then later on the j Auckland suburban lines, AucklandFrankton Junction, and the Paikakariki extension tdfc Palmerston North. much depending on the arrival of stocks and equipment from overseas. When the coal Creek, Roxburgh Gorge or Central Otago scheme was opened, the department would consider the electrification of the main South Island lines. Though the general manager gave no clue as to where the new railcars would be allocated, he did say there would be 25 Diesel electric railcars coming, and they would carry 80 passengers and would be equipped with all the most modern comforts. The new railcars had actually been ordered and were expected some time early next year. Recent trials were made in the Otago district as to the suitability of lines, etc., for railcars and though no reference was made by the speakers, it is thought the allocation will include the southern province. More than 600 attended the celebrations which were marked by an all daysports meeting and a banquet at which the principal speaker was the Minister of Railways. Mr Semple, who worked for two years on the tunnel in the stages of its initial construction.