SLEEPING BERTHS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 6

SLEEPING BERTHS.

RAILWAY TRAVELLERS. NEW SYSTEM PROPOSED. On the Auckland-Wellington route, a new system of allocating berths in railway sleeping care will be put into operation by the Railways. Department on Wednesday next, July 10. The Department states that the system followed in the past led to certain difficulties and, on occasions, as a result of cancellations, the best sleeping berths were allotted to passenger® who were among the latest applicants, an anomaly which it was very desirable to remove.

Under the new method a passenger making application for a sleeper will, provided there is still accommodation available, be issued with the necessary ticket. The issue of the ticket guarantees that a berth will be allotted, 'but the number of the berth will not be given until the passenger is joining the train, or, if so desired, say, an hour before departure. The names of applicants will be recorded in the order in which they apply, and an indication can be given bv the booking clerk whether the berth is in a central position, or otherwise. The idea is that at a given time on the day of the dejwirture of the train, the berths will be allocated fron the list of names on the principle of first comc, first served.

If there arc cancellations, those on the list will move up automatically, and improve their position each time there is alteration to the list.