RAIL AND ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 21, 26 January 1939, Page 13

RAIL AND ROAD.

TRAVEL TICKET. IiEW RAILWAY PROPOSAL. WILL. ASSIST TRAVELLERS. A new form of annual railway ticket, for use on both road and rail services, is to be issued shortly. by the Railway Department, according to a statement made in Christchurch by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. It had been designed to meet the requirements of those travellers, particularly commercial travellers, who find it necessary to utilise the road services in areas which cannot be reached conveniently by rail. The proposal is a new one as far as railway practice is concerned. "The tickets will be known as *bulk travel vouchers,' and are designed for travel over specific distances," said Mr. Sullivan. "At the present time the Department operates over two thousand miles of road routes in addition to over 3200 miles of railways. It is considered that -an annual ticket which would permit of travel by both road and rail routes would be a convenience appreciated by travellers who desire to use these services. "Bulk Travel Vouchers." "The 'bulk travel vouchers' will meet this requirement. The voucher will provide for travel by rail or road for 2000 miles at a cost of £13 15/; 3000 miles, £19 10/; and 4000 miles, £24. They will be available for use 011 411 y rail or road route, except suburban bi» services, in the Dominion, until the prescribed mileage has been covered, but the maximum currency will be twelve months. "Although primarily intended for road travel," the Minister added, "the travel vouchers will be available also for firstclass travel by rail. A passenger buying a 'bulk travel voucher' will pay the price for the mileage desired, 2000, 3000 or 4000 miles, as the cq.se may be. The voucher will thereafter be comparable with a letter of credit, inasmuch as, on its presentation, the required tickets will be issued at any railway office or by a service car driver. "In the ordinary course," concluded Mr. Sullivan, "the travel vouchers will be non-transferable, being negotiable by the holder only, but provision has been made for their transfer, for business purposes, from one member of a firm to another, in a manner similar to the procedure followed in connection with railway annual season tickets, on payment of a fee of 15/ for each such transfer. "I am satisfied that the innovation will be welcomed by a large section of annual season-ticket travellers, as it will enable them to make contact with many towns not closely connected with the railroad."