SPEED OF RAILWAYS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19025, 27 May 1936, Page 15

SPEED OF RAILWAYS

NEW ZEALAND SYSTEM HARDSHIPS EXPLAINED ANSWER TO CRITICISM (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. In a press interview to-day, the Minister of Railways, the lion. I>. G. Sullivan, said that in view of recent criticism it was only fair that the people of New Zealand, as owners id the railways, should know whether it was justified. lie was referring to the matter oi speeds as compared with train speeds in other countries. He had asked the general manager ol railways tor some relevant particulars. These are contained in a lengthy statement which sets out the whole position of the engine load and line.

It 'shows clearly how New Zealand, with its mountainous topography, makes fust time impossible by reason of curves and gradients. To make, say, the North Island Main Trunk line capable of being a Flying Scotsman would cost many millions of pounds, and entail tunnelling on a scale never yet undertaken anywhere in the world. In addition to this factor is the fact of New Zealand's small population compared with the huge population ol Britain and contiguous Europe.

The general manager, Mr. G. H. Macklev, says the statement does not mean that nothing further in the way of speed can be done in New Zealand, but is only intended to show that train performance in the matter ol speed in New Zealand is as good for expresi trains as it is possible to have with .lie existing tracks and with trains ol the present weight. He goes on to qieuk of the possibilities ol the rail ear, and says that, on many suit a lil< routes, rail car units may be expected not only to affect very substantial savings in time, but also to provide von clean and comfortable transport it conformity with the most modern standards.