RAIL SERVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 8

RAIL SERVICES.

TIME-TABLE REVISION ON SUBURBAN LINES. .1 ' CHANGES ON MAY 1. t With the dual aim of improving t services and effecting economies expenditure, alterations, to take effe from May 1, are being made in t'. suburban and other railway thne-tabl ' in the Auckland district. Details of the changes were aunoima last night by Mr. H. H. Sterling, chaj man of the Railways Board, who sa the alterations would improve the pa senger services between Auckland ai Helensville, and between Auckland ai Papakura and connections sowthwan ' give better spacing of trains and, whe possible, improved running; afford ir ' proved passenger connections betwe< ■ the north and south lines; and provii a better goods service between Aucklai and Whaiigarei. Accruing Department 1 advantages would be relief of congestk ' at such centres as Huntly and Frank ti Junction, and the provision of facilitl for the better utilisation of car stoci and engine power; Mr. Sterling explained that while ' the rearranged suburban time-tabl : morning and evening workers' and bus ■ ness services had been maintained c their present schedules, alterations lit ' been made in the trains running durii ' the slacker hours, which would enab the services to be worked at a very su ■ stantiiil reduction in costs, notwit! standing that the engine mileage wou be increased. The point was emphasised by tl board chairman that some of tl improvements decided upon could ) maintained only if substantial publ support were forthcoming. Much thougl had been given to the transport requin ments of the areas covered," and he hope the revised time-table would meet wit the approval of those for whom tl improved services had been cspeciall planned. The New Time-table. The following are the details of th alterations to be made: — A new passenger train, via Orake will leave Auckland at 9.45 a.m. fc Otnhuhu, and leave on the return a 10.37- a.m., arriving Auckland at 11. a.m. This will fill a gap in the presen service on the deviation. The present 7.10 a.m. train froi Maungaturoto to Auckland will b changed to leave Maungaturoto at 6.3 a.m., and Helensville at 0.47, and wi be accelerated to arrive in Auckland a 12.5 p.m., instead of 2.7 p.m, thu allowing travellers two hours longer i Auckland. With this improved schedule the present 8.23 a.m. Helensville-Auck land train will not be required. Minor alterations in the week-da. , Auckland-HendeiYsoii-Swanson trains wil be made, but not in the peak trafii hours. Saturday Trains. Improvements in the Saturday train have been arranged. The present 11.3 a.m. Auckland-New Lynn train will rui to Henderson, and the present 12.11 p.m from New Lynn to Auckland will rui from Henderson (12.29 p.m.) and arriv at Auckland at 1.19 p.m. A new trail will leave ■ Helensville at 1.23 p.m. arriving at Auckland at 4.10 p.m., am the present 3.22 p.m. Auckland-Wha ngarei train will be altered to leav< Auckland at 5.5 p.m., and, with restricted stops, arrive at Wliangarei at 11.4$ p.m —4(5 minutes earlier than at present. The present 0.24 p.m. Auckland-Swan son train will be extended to Helensville arriving there at 8.35 p.m. Southern Services. The 9.45 a.m. passenger train fron Frankton to Auckland will leave 1( minutes earlier and arrive Auckland a 1.44 p.m.—27 minutes earlier than a , present. It will make some additiona stops in the outer suburban area. An adjustment of the schedule of th< train with a passenger car attachec which at present runs southward aheat of the 3 p.m. Wellington express fron Auckland until it is overtaken by tin express at Tuakau has been made, sc that this train will leave Pukekohe after the south-bound express. This wil enable paseengers who desire to trave in the afternoon from Auckland to sta tions between Pukekohe and Mercer tc go by the 3 p.m. express to Pukekohe and proceed thence to their destination by the altered train. The 4.20 ' p.m. Auekland-Frankton train will make a new stop at Manurewa, and new stops will be provided for also on the 0.30 p.m. AucklandFrankton Saturday train at Papatoetoe and Manurewa. A new passenger train will leave Auckland for Papakura at 8.50 a.m.. serving as a convenient feeder train for the Tauranga express, and on its return will leave Papakura at 11 a.m., to reach Auckland at 11.51 a.m. This service will make for better spacing of the morning suburban trains between Auckland and Papakura. Other adjustments of suburban services to be made in this area are of a minor character. New Saturday connections for the Waiuku branch will enable passengers to leave Waiuku at 4.30 p.m. and arrive at Auckland at C.20 p.m., and leave Auckland at 0.30 p.m., to arrive at Waiuku at 8.30 p.m. Goods Traffic. A through night goods train from Auckland to Wliangarei, in lieu of certain other services, will be instituted. By this means goods consigned at Auckland up to 5 p.m. and arriving from south of Auckland by rail up to 10 p.m. will be landed at Wliangarei at 10.36 o'clock the next morning—practically a day earlier than at present.