TRAIN RUNNING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1927, Page 11

TRAIN RUNNING.

DAYLIGHT LIMITED'S TIMES,

PASSENGERS MISS LAST CARS.

FREQUENT INCONVENIENCE

CAUSED.

RAILWAYMEN'S DIFFICULT

PROBLEM,

Complaints have been made concerning the late arrival of the Daylight Limited at Auckland. She is due here at 11.2 p.m., but more often than not it is nearer 12 midnight before passengers are tended on the platform. Last week, for instance, instead of arriving on Thursday night, it was Friday morning before tired travellers were able to leave the train. By that time all the tramcars had left the citv terminus, and people desiring to go to the suburbs had either to walk long distances, or else hire taxicabs.

The greatest sufferers were women and children, and had it not been for the good offices of fellow passengers, mothers would have been stranded." On that occasion the express arrived from Wellington at 12.5 a.m. on Friday. True, this was an exceptional case, but instances can be given where the Daylight Limited, instead of arriving a few" minutes after 11 p.m., has not pulled in till 11.35 p.m.. 11.40 p.m., 11.4S p.m., and frequently later. Seldom since she has been running has she arrived on schedule.

When it is known approximately at what time the Daylight Limited should reach Auckland, railway officials generally advise the Tramways Department, and often late tramcars are held a few minutes accordingly. But when her running becomes so erratic that no definite time can be given, it is contended that the tramcars cannot be kept waiting indefinitelv.

Between Frankton and Auckland this particular express has to cross thirteen other trains. If one of those trains is

delayed, the Daylight Limited is immediately held tip, and consequently other trains become affected, the final result being that, instead of takin? 2 hours 28 minutes to do the run of 80 miles from Frankton, she more often than not takes close on three hours, and sometimes over. Running Late Tramcars. > It has been suggested, by interested parties, that perhaps some arrangement ; could be come to by which the Tramways Department could provide for cars , to leave the Post Office terminus later ■ than 11.30 p.m. as at present. This contention is supported by the fact that arrangements have been made for care to leave the city at midnight and 0.23 a.m. for the convenience of employees who have to work late shifts at the new city tramway depot. It is argued that if the Tramways Department can do this for employees then it would also be reasonable and practicable to run certain cars for the convenience of the general public, including late arrivals by the Daylight Limited, or the special train which will be run from l Frankton when the Limited is taken off the run. If, for instance, last cars for the suburbs could be made to depart at, say, 11.40 or 11.45 p.m. there would be a greater chance of passengers off the daylight express being able to travel by them. Where Difficulties Occur. •The Daylight Limited leaves Wellington at 7.55 a.m., and, according to timetable, It should take her 15 hours 7 minutes to do the 427 miles* journey. In comparison the Night Limited takes 14 hours 24 minutes, and the ordinary express 17 hours 41 minutes to cover the same distance. It is recognised that facilities for running night expresses over long distances are much greater than those in daylight. This is accounted for by the fact that railway traffic over main lines, such as the Main Trunk, is not so congested during night hours as in the daytime. Between Wellington and Auckland the Daylight Limited has to make numerous crossings with other trains and these conditions do not apply in same degree to the Night Limited, which more often than not gets a fairly clear run. One of the Railway Department's greatest difficulties over the route mentioned, however, is negotiating the heavy grades and curves in the King Country, especially in the vicinity of Waimiha and Poro-o-tarao, also on the extremely busy single lino section between Wellington and Palmerston North. Then, as stated previously, there are difficulties between Frankton and Auckland. Cut out Daylight Limited. As a matter of fact railwaymen generally consider that the Daylight Limited is a train which should not be running regularly. During the Christmas and Easter holidays she does tend to relieve passenger traffic, but at other times she only robs other legitimate trains of their passengers. It has been proved beyond all possible doubt that the Government is losing large sums of money in keeping her on, and the Minister of Railways admitted this last year.

Until instructions have been issued to cancel this train, however, the railway officers have to make the best arrangements possible for its running to time-table.

Discussing the matter with a "Star" representative this morning, Mr. E. Casey, Divisional Superintendent for the North Island, said: "Our chief trouble in the late arrival of the Daylight Limited at Auckland is the number of crossings she has to make in southern districts. In addition delays have been occasioned by the express goods, which leaves Auckland at 7.50 p.m. not being able to make her crossing with the express at Tuakau. Although this train gets away from here on time the congested state of the yard at Otahuhu delays her on occasion. Then the exceptional congestion in Auckland yard during the past few weeks has a bearing on the matter al,so. It has become increasingly difficult to handle freight. Consequently extra goods trains have had to be put on to cope with the extra traffic. I have given instructions for an officer to be detailed to personally investigate the running of the two trains particularly concerned, with a view to altering the schedule of No. 243, or the through goods, when I anticipate there will be a great improvement | in the running of the Daylight Limited. I might add," said Mr Casey, "that these arrangements will apply" to the running of the nisht passenger train from Frankton, which runs when the Limited is'taken off.' "When will that be?" was asked. "Well there is no definite information on the subject as to when she will discontinue running; but I anticipate it might be the end of April."