THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1948. RAILWAYS ENTERPRISE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26918, 2 November 1948, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1948. RAILWAYS ENTERPRISE

The celebration of the silver jubilee of the opening of the Otira tunnel was an appropriate occasion for the general manager of the New Zealand Railways, Mr F. W. Aickin, to announce a programme of expansion and improvements which would demonstrate that the spirit of enterprise was still alive in tlie department. The opportunity was not wholly lost. Mr Aickin referred to the electrification of the AucklandFrankton Junction service and the extension from Paekakariki to Palmerston North —to which the Minister of Railways, Mr Semple, referred two months ago—and also to the Hutt Valley electrification, which is to have priority over these works. Where Mr Semple spoke of the electrification of “ the Main Trunk line,” Mr Aicken has said that consideration is being given to the main South Island lines after the Coal Creek power scheme is in operation. If New Zealand’s coal supply position is regarded by the department as hopeless, then- a rapid change to electric trains may be necessary if the present mounting losses on the railways are to be checked. As has been suggested, the problem of obtaining supplies of equipment may affect this programme of work, but as material comes to hand this should be allocated to the best advantage—the availability of power rather than the urgency of a district need/must be the determining factor. Although it may be anticipated that the power position will be better in the South Island, this suggestion is. not made out of parochial self-interest. It would be an obvious waste to electrify a North Island line if there was a possibility that it could be operated only seasonally. The extended use of railcars in the near future was also mentioned by Mr Aickin, but this is not a new project. As we have suggested on a previous occasion, a positive rather than a negative attitude to the problem of the railways is needed, and also a concern for passenger comfort instead of a pre-occupation with costs. The railways no longer enjoy a transport monopoly, but they are conducted much on the same lines as they were thirty years ago. The whole system sadly needs modernising. Speed may be limited by the narrow gauge track, but too much time is wasted by stops while waiting for another train to pass or at refreshment stations. Attention should also be given to accommodation. For example, a change to one-class trains could be made, all the carriages having a fair standard of comfort. To these -trains 'could be added special units such as lounges, nurseries or observation cars, with higher charges for these facilities. New Zealand’s railways are costly and out-of-date. They will become more costly if extensive improvements are not made.