TEN RAIL-CARS ORDERED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19625, 9 May 1938, Page 6

TEN RAIL-CARS ORDERED

ENGLISH FIRM’S TENDER () VERT A KING LEE WAV DELIVERY IN 14 MONTHS (P«r Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Referring to the Government’s policy to develop the rail-car method of passenger transport, the Minister of Railways, the lion. D. G. Sullivan, in a statement said that the tender ol Vulcan Foundry Company Ltd., Lancashire, had been accepted for the supply of 10 complete standard railcars. “These cars,” said Mr. Sullivan, “will be Diesel-engined. with mechanical transmission ot an improved type. Delivery of the first car under the tender will be made in New Zealand 14 months after the receipt of the order, with one car fortnightly until the order is completed."

Asked if it were not possible to construct the rail-cars in New Zealand, the Minister replied that the position had been thoroughly examined, and it was found to be altogether impracticable.

"There are now six of these cars under construction at the Hull Valley railway workshops," Mr. Sullivan said, "and immediately they are completed. the rate of output will increase when additional facilities are available at both Hutt and Addington workshops. Steel Deliveries Delayed "In connection with this order," said the Minister, "I may say that owing to the delay in the deliveries of steel from Britain, the rolling stock building programme of the department has not been advanced sufficiently to meet the needs of traffic development and of that expansion of modern passenger services and facilities on the railways which forms an important part of the Government’s transport policy. To make up the leeway, this overseas order has been placed in addition to the rail-cars now on order."

The Minister added that it had been decided to call for tenders for the supply of 10 three-car Diesel-engined train units which would each provide sealing accommodation for about 150 passengers.