LITTLE RIVER TRAIN SERVICE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXX, Issue 4241, 4 October 1912, Page 2

LITTLE RIVER TRAIN SERVICE.

CONSIDERATION OF THE TIMETABLE. We understand that steps are being taken at the present time by the Railway' Department to make some considerable alterations in the timetable on the Little River-Cbristchurch line, which, it is proposed, will come into operation on January Ist, 1918. Tbe alterations being considered are these:—To run a double service be tweeu the two station?, trains to leave Little Kiver at 8 p m. and 1 p.m. daily, and to leave Cbristchurcb at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or thereabouts. The proposal practically amounts to this : That tbe present midday train to Christchurch is done away with, and a daily afternoon train, which runs only on Tuesdays for the convenience of stock, etc., now is substituted. A good deal of comment is being made for aod against tbe change by residents of the Peninsula. Tbe information is cf course unofficial, and the Railway Department has not yet put its proposals before the residents of the district. From enquiiies made in Akaroa and Little Kiver, the proposal to make tbe alteration does not appear to meet with much favour. It is stated that the new train service will be most inconvenient to the creameries at Little River, as a train leaving there at 8 a.m. would be too early for the despatch of cream to the Central Dairy Company's Factory, and it is doubtful if the cream would not deteriorate in the summer weather if kept all day and then despatched by the 4 p.m. train. The mid-day train is most convenient to Little River residents who wish to spend a few hours in town, and- who can now leave at noon and return by the evening train from Christohurch

leaving at 5 p.m. Then again the 8 a.m. train would only serve the Little River district as the present 7.40 a.m. train does, as the departure of this train is too early for those living in the Bays and Akaroa.

In conversation with His Worship the Mayor of Akaroa, Mr Armstrong said he thought the change would be distinctly disadvantageous to the tourist traffic to Akaroa. What was wanted was a faster midday train service He did not think the alteration could mean a double mail service, and it was of little advantage to the town.

The alterations, if made, would also debar the motor cars travelling to catch the early morning train at Little River and bringing them back in the evening for over six weeks in the year, as the Akaroa County's motor by-law does not allow motore to travel on the County roade before sunrise aud after sunset. The coaches would have to leave Akaroa at 5 a.m. to catch the early train, and would not reach Akaroa until 10 o'clock at night from the evening train. What is wanted ig a faster train service, and it is impossible to bavo this until goods and passenger traffic are separated. Although the proposals to cut the journey down twenty minutes, the journey of thirty-six miles in two hours would still be a wearisome one. The present train journey between Christoburch and Little River certainly takes away a lot of the pleasure of the trip, and the journey to Akaroa neoessarily a very tiresome one. If the whole journey between Christchuroh and Akaroa could be accomplished in three hours it would do a great deal to make Akaroa more popular. ■ Unless something is done to smarten up the train service, it is certain a motor service between Cbristchuroh and Little River will take most of the passenger traffic this summer. Hia Worship the Mayor is communicating with the Hon. B. H. Rhodes regarding the matter.