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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 9 (January 1, 1928)

New Short-Haul Methods

New Short-Haul Methods.

Changed conditions in the world of transport are upsetting many old theories. In short-baul business in particular, a complete change of method is called for to meet present-day conditions; and the subject of branch-line operation is one to which the Home railways are devoting immense attention.

The equipment and method of working branch-lines at Home will be familiar to many New Zealand railwaymen. Under conditions as they exist to-day, the heavy equipment of these routes and their operation by heavy steam passenger trains and lumbering pick-up freight trains, is quite unsuited to public needs, and as the years proceed there will be witnessed vast changes in this branch of Home railway activity. Cheaper and simpler stations and signalling installations will probably be substituted for existing equipment; light and speedy rail motors will replace the costly heavy passenger trains now operated; while pick-up goods trains will give place to mixed trains of a lighter nature than those at present utilised, or to the employment by the railways of road motors. Increased stops will be provided by the construction of cheaply-built halts serving intermediate points at present removed from stopping-places, and train staffs will perform the majority of the duties at present calling for the employment of special station personnel. It is impossible for the railway to give a door-to-door service such as is frequently offered by the road carrier, but much can be done towards offering the railway passenger better conditions than those which are at present solely provided by the road vehicle.