COUCHETTE OR BUNK?

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 8

COUCHETTE OR BUNK?

THIRD-CLASS SLEEPERS. ON ALL-NIGHT EXPRESSES. CATERING FOR DISTANCE TRAVELLERS. Plans are nearly complete for the introduction of third-class sleeping accommodation on the Great Western, London Midland and Scottish and London and North-Eastern railways in time for the peak holiday traffic in July and August. This news was received by the last mail from Home and makes interesting reading in view of the fact that extra first-class sleeping accommodation has recently been put on the Limited express between Auckland and Wellington. It has been suggested that second-class passengers should also have the right to sleeping accommodation on night express trains if, desired. It is not proposed that this class of traveller should be provided for on the Limited at present, but only on the ordinary Main Trunk express.

In England the three groups of railway companies are working in conjunction in the matter. As soon as a uniform type of third-class sleeper can be mutually decided upon by the company's managers in conference, work will proceed with the conversion of first-class sleepers, or the adaption of ordinary third-class compartments, as the case might be. Choice of Two Types. The choice is # between two types: The sleeper proper, with two bunks instead of one, and the adjustable rack in the "ordinary sitting compartment similar to the French "couchette." Both types may be used, the charge for the second being lower in proportion. Latest advice was to the effect that the scale of charges would probably range between 5/ and 7/6, according to distance. First-class sleeper charges from London are 15/ for the West of England, Wales, and as far north as Carlisle, and 20/ beyond Carlisle. The intention at first is to run thirdclass sleepers on all trains, which now have first-class sleepers. If the development is a success they may be extended to other long-distance highspeed trains. In France there is no discrimination between the sexes in the allocation of couchettes. Women passengers frequently have to share a four-rack compartment with men, and somewhat similar conditions prevail in America.

If, however, the couchette type is adopted in England it is understood there will be separate compartments for men and women.

Third-class sleepers, it is stated, wall be an immense boon to the travelling public who cannot, aft'ord 15/ or £1 plus first-class fare. On long journeys—say from London to Scotland—the saving will be from £3 to £5.