THE THROUGH SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 153, 27 June 1908, Page 9

THE THROUGH SERVICE.

PROPOSED TIME-TABLE-I»y Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) WETJuESfGTON, this day On the completion of the Main Trunk Railway it has been definitely decided, so I understand, that the through service will be from Auckland to InvereargilL leaving the northern city at 10 p.m. or thereabouts. The train will run all night, arriving at Wellington somewhere in the proximity of 5.30 p.m. The steamer will leave Wellington about 8 p.m. as now, reaehirrg-Lytteiton in time to connect with, the express for InvercargilL This train will leave Christelrurch at 3 a-m., stopping at the main stations only, and will probably rewm Invercargill at 9.30 p.m. The present express which serves the Christehurch-Invercargill business does not arrive at the southern trminus until 11.5 p.m., so that a considerable saying of time will be effected on the Christchureh-I-nvereargill journey when the through service between becomes an accomplished fact. Leaving Invercargiil on the northward journey, passengers will take train at 7 a-m., leaving Dunedin at *n»idday, and will land alongside the steamer at Lyttelton at 9 pjn. Wellington should be reached about 9 am. The Auckland express will take its departure from Wellington about 11.30 a.m., and will land its passengers in the northern city at 7 a-m. the following d«y. Suitable "connections with the Wellington-Auckland service will be made from and to New Plymouth and Napier. The completion of the line and the inauguration of the through fast service will no doubt induce a considerable number of people, who would like to visit the northern capital, but are deterred from making the trip by the discomforts of the sea. to undertake the journey, and from the interest taken in the matter. I anticipate a very considerable patronage will be accorded the through train. As near as I can gather, the through train fare from Auckland to Wellington will be 39/ first class and 21/2 secondclass, the return journey being twice these rates in each case. The railway workshops have been going at high pressure for a considerable time past in connection with the building of rolling stock for the Main Trunk line. A number of large compound tank engines are being especially constructed for hauling the trains over the hilly country between Tauinarunui and Taihape. The inauguration of the night service will, of course, require provision of sleeping cars as well as a night staff at some of the stations en route. There has been a great deal of discussion as to the suitability of the service as outlined some time ago in the newspapers in so far as mail communications were affected. From information gathered in conversation with leading members of the mercantile community during the time that the subject has been prominently under public notice, there is, I think, no doubt that the service outlined herein will be generally acceptable to all parts of the community.