BY RAIL TO WELLINGTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 168, 15 July 1908, Page 4

BY RAIL TO WELLINGTON.

MAIN TRUNK TIME-TABLE. XEW STATION BUILDINGS AT AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. "In view of the early completion of the North Island Main Trunk line," the Minister for Railways (the Hon. W. Hall- Jones), the all-important question of train service has been engaging my close attention for some time past. Many important issues are involved, but, after mature consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the railway time-table must be framed on lines that mil furnish the people of the Dominion with the most convenient and rapid~means of transport between Auckland and the Bluff and the important business centres of both islands lying between those points. The commercial interests of tha country demand that mails shall receive quick dispatch, and those engaged in business pursuits in the various important centres be given reasonable facilities for replying promptly to oversea communications. The distance intervening between Auckland and Invercargill renders night travelling by land and sea unavoidable. It also makes the curtailment of the stopping places of through trains, which must in future he regarded as essentially fast passenger and mail trains, an imperative necessity. It follows, therefore, that a satisfactory service between the north and south por Jons of the Dominion can be given only by limiting the number of stopping-places for the through trains, and this will be done accordingly. "The through trains in the North Island will consist of 50ft cars, convertible into sleeping cars at night, and the timetable will be approximately as follows:— South-bound: Leave Auckland 8.30 pan., Monday, arrive Wellington 3.30 p.m. Tuesday, leave by steamer for Lyttelton at 8 p.m. the same evening, connect with first express at Christchurcb. Wednesday, arrive Invercargill 9.30 p.m. same night.' North-bound: Leave Invercargill 7.10 a.m. Monday. Lyttelton by steamer 10 p.m. same night, arrive Wellington 9 a.m. Tuesday, leave at 12 noon, and arrive at Auckland 7.15 a.m. Wednesday. Similarly on otner days. Daily connections will also be provided between Napier, New Plymouth and Auckland. The success of the operations of the North Island Main Trunk railway -will foe materially assisted by the acquisition of the Wellington and Manawatu Company's line,-which now forms the direct connecting link between Wellington and the north, and over which a very large portion of the traffic originating on the Staterailways now passes. It is desirable that the company's line be taken over at the earliest possible date. "The linking up of the chief cities of the Dominion and the settlement of the inland districts traversed by the Main Trunk line will undoubtedly result in a large increase of traffic at Wellington and Auckland respectively. Increased accommodation is therefore essential, ajid with a view to providing this it is proposed to erect new station, buildings and to remodel the yard accommodation at both centres. Plans for these important works are now in course of preparation."