CHRISTCHURCH-ASHBURTON RAILWAY SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26514, 31 August 1951, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH-ASHBURTON RAILWAY SERVICE

Sir,—Does the Government wish to discourage the public from using the railways? From the unsatisfactory service run between Christchurch and Ashburton one would think so. ■ The antiquated trains are often anything up to an hour late. Recently the practice of steam heating the carriages has been suspended, and I have seen passengers stamping up and down coaches to keep warm. This service has been the Cinderella long enough; it is high time railcars were put on and run to time.—Yours, etc., ANOTHER TRAVELLER. Ashburton, August 21,1951.

[“The Railways Department unfor-i tunately cannot revert to the ordinary passenger services until the coal stocks are sufficiently replenished,” said the District Traffic Manager (Mr W. A. Breach), when this letter was referred to him. Mr Breach said that the steam heating of cars on the ChristchurchAshburton service had not been suspended. The guard should be informed when these were not operating. There was no record of the late-running mentioned by the correspondent. There were insufficient rail, cars to provide any for this service. If the correspondent cared to call at the District Railways Office the position would be more fully explained, added Mr Breach.]