NEW TIME-TABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 11

NEW TIME-TABLE.

STRATFORD RAILWAY. SEVERAL STAFF TRANSFERS. MORE MEN FOR TATTMARtTNUX (From- Our Own Correspondent.) TAUMARUNUI, January 23. The new railway time-table, designed particularly to provide faster and more convenient goods transport to and from the Taranaki province,, has been released by Mr. P. W. Miller, district traffic manager at Wanganui,, and will come into operation during the first week in February. The new time-table will mean the closing of the locomotive depot at Whangamomona, on the Stratford line. This will involve the transfer of drivers, firemen and guards connected with the station. Some will come to Taumarunui, where the staff needs strengthening, but the destination of the others is not yet known. Mr. Miller told a reporter that the train services now proposed will speed np the facilities for goods transport, and they are calculated to provide a better service for the business community of Taranaki —a service more in keeping with present-day requirements. As a result of alterations to a number of Main Trunk line Frankton Junc-tion-Taumarunui connecting trains, the Taumarunui-Stratford time-table will have to be altered, and the amended time-table will provide a better service for residents between Okahukura and Stratford. The present 5.36 a.m. Strat-ford-Taumarunui train will leave Stratford at 5.42 a.m., and will arrive at Taumarunui at the same time as it does now. The train leaving Tangarakau at 7.5 a.m. for Stratford will be cancelled and will be replaced by a through train leaving Taumarunui at 2.15 a.m. daily, Ohura at 4.45 a.m., Tangarakau at 6.0 a.m., and Whangamomona at 7.5 a.m., arriving at Stratford at 9.48 a.m. A return train will be provided to leave (Stratford daily at 1.35 p.m. for Tau-

marunui. This train will reach Whangamomona at 3 p.m., Tangarakau at 4.8 p.m., Ohura at 5.55 p.m. and Taumarunui at 8.5 p.m. The running of this train will necessitate the discontinuance of the present 3.15 p.m. train from Stratford to Whangamomona. The present 5.10 p.m. Stratford-Taumarunui train will not he altered, but the 7 p.m. Stratford-Tangarakau Saturday train will be extended to run to Taumarunui. This will provide a connection at Taumarunui early on Sunday morning with north-bound Wellington-Auckland expresses, and it will, no doubt, be a. popular service. To balance this train the 6.5 p.m. Taumarunui-Ohura Saturday train will also be extended to Stratford, thus providing a connection ta Stratford from Auckland and Waikato districts. Neither the present 7.10 a.m. Taumarunui-Stratford daily train, nor the present & p.m. Taumarunui-Stratford Monday to Friday train will be disturbed. , , It is understood that when the new service comes into operation there will be 35 sets—drivers and firemen —of locomotive men stationed at Taumarunui. A commencement will shortly be made with the installation of train-running control apparatus at Okahukura, and the Railways Department also intends to light the Taringamotu station and houses with electricity.