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For the Wellington suburban services 71 multiple-unit trailer coaches and 40 motor coaches were ordered from Great Britain, and a number of the trailer coaches are now tohand. Motor coaches are also expected to arrive shortly, and as a commencement these? will be placed on the Wellington-Paekakariki line to improve and augment the service there. The Wellington-Johnsonville units have received very hard wear during the last few years and the arrival of the additional coaches will in the meantime also provide some relief on this service. The rail-air service has now developed into an integral part of the transport facilities offered by the Railways Department and the past year has seen a continued expansion of traffic. Compared with the previous year the tonnage carried increased by 1,995 tons, or 34-05 per cent., while the number of trips flown between Paraparaumu and Blenheim increased from 1,741 to 2,253. One of the notable features of the service was the conveyance of 805 household removals. An unfortunate accident occurred on 9th August, 1948, when a Dakota aircraft carrying rail-air freight flew into a hillside in low cloud near Port Underwood and the crew of two were killed. ROAD SERVICES Traffic demands on the road services have been increasingly heavy during the year and services and time-tables have been continually adjusted to suit traffic requirements. A continuous building programme was maintained in order to replace obsolete vehicles and to provide modern vehicles for new services. During the year the fleet was strengthened by 93 vehicles, comprised as follows : 38 omnibuses. 40 service coaches. 2 composite vehicles. 13 trucks and vans. In addition, 5 trucks and 2 motor-cars were obtained from defence surplus stocks and 49 G.M.C. trucks previously on hire from the Army were transferred to this Department. The total fleet operated by the branch at 31st March, 1949, was — 308 omnibuses. 376 service and other cars. 269 lorries and vans. 5 passenger trucks. 3 horse floats. 12 office cars. 8 trailers. 10 utility vehicles (breakdown and garage trucks). Total 991 The following services in new routes were commenced: — 23rd August, 1948 : Taumarunui-Wellington (direct service via Taihape). Bth December, 1948 : Reefton-Westport (extension of the Christchurch service). 17th January, 1949 : Ashburton-Timaru-Oamaru (as a result of the cancellation of mixed trains on this route). 21st February, 1949 : Waitakaruru-Auckland (via Miranda, Mangatani, Kuiaua, Orere and Cliveden). Compared with the previous year, the mileage over which our vehicles operate has ■ increased" by 125 route miles, bringing the total route mileage to 5,904.

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