NEW EXPRESS TRAINS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 243, 12 September 1929, Page 5

NEW EXPRESS TRAINS.

LUXURIOUS EQUIPMENT,

AUCKLAND - ROTORUA SERVICE.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. The building of two new complete trains for the Auckland-Rotorua express service has been started at the railway workshops at Otahuhu, states the Railway Magazine. In the new trains are incorporated the very latest practice in railway carriage construction. Many of the old features of New Zealand carriages have completely disappeared. The windows are of plate glass and are of the balance type, opening from the top to the bottom, and are frameless. One of the many important details is the fitting of vestibules to all cars, thus securing, by an enclosed space, a more complete connection between the carriages, and doing away with the old type of open platforms at the ends of cars. IMPROVED TYPE OF SEAT. Each first-class car is fitted with a coupe to accommodate six passengers. These coupes have proved most popular on such trains as the “Golden Arrow',” which some consider to be the finest train in the.world. Special attention has been given to tho seating, W'hich will be considerably more comfortable than the existing type. Being of the reversible type, tne seats will have three positions, namely, day, semi-lounge, and total recline. The metal work of the seats is an alluminium alloy, thus saving 501b.in weight .on each seat. They are all so arranged in tho car as to give a clear view from the seat through the related window. The cars are fitted w'ith atmospheric steam heaters and generous facilities for electric light and fans. Each car is fitted with a lavatory with hot and cold water. The whole of the water, 160 gallons, is carried below the underframe, and is raised by air pressure. Each car is sheathed with enamel plates. The object of this sheathing is that no painting is required, the surfaces being easily cleaned by a sponge and hose. The whole train will be finished in Midland Lake red. Another new feature is that for the first time in New Zealand automatic couplers will be used. At the end of each train is a specially-constructed and generouslyequipped observation car. This has window's 3ft. Gin. in width, and a rounded glass end. It is furnished with lounge chairs. Many improvements also are being embodied in the second-class cars. Each train will consist of eight carriages. MAKING TRAINS ATTRACTIVE. Some remarks on the subject are included in the usual contribution to the magazine by tho General Manager, Mr H. H. Sterling. He says a general programme for the improvement of car stock includes many features which will help to make train travelling more attractive, but progress with the work could not be made on a large scale until the principal workshops of the system had been modernised. “Now that the new workshops are in full occupation progress in supplying the elusive quality of service which lies in comfortable and good-looking vehicles should be rapid, and productive of good results,” he remarks. “I think it will help us to compete successfully with the road services that have come into the field recently over routes served by rail, where the day or the greater portion of it is necessarily occupied in travelling on a run such as between Auckland and Rotorua. “We will be able to make the trip more interesting and convenient to through passengers than it could be by road, where the density of traffic warrants it. Observation and coupe cars certainly can supply opportunities for either w'ork or entertainment that road services cannot provide. Music reading, private business discussions or secretarial work are among the things that the new daylight passenger train rolling-stock will make possible to travellers. With this w r e hope to build up a social atmosphere on our trains, that better equipment and increased facilities for recreation and higher standards of comfort will enoourage.”