Luggage On Rail

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29899, 13 August 1962, Page 3

Luggage On Rail

Sir,—l frequently use the Christchurch-West Coast railcar to go ski-ing at the weekends. On the Friday night rail-car the guard will not accept skis as part of the passengers’ luggage, so that skis must be sent up the previous day at an extra cost of 2s 6d. However, on the return journey on Sunday evening skis are accepted as part of the passenger's luggage, and are thus carried at no extra charge. Apart from the extra cost, it is inconvenient to have to go down to the railway station on Thursdays in the lunch hour traffic. It has been brought to my notice that the railway will not accept tramping packs as luggage. I cannot see how a pack is any different from a large suitcase or a pram. Up to date there has not been insufficient room in the luggage compartment, and the guards are very efficient at loading and unloading the luggage in a short time— Yours, etc., PUZZLED. August 8. IThe District Traffic Manager (Mr E. C. Brittendeni said: “The space in the luggage compartment of our rail-cars is limited and it is not always possible to accommodate both packs and skis. The latter are accepted when space is available, but it is usual for ski club members to forward them by trains leaving Christchurch at 4.20 p.m. and 65 p.m. to ensure that they are available at Arthur’s Pass when required. A checking charge of Is is made if the passenger desires the skis to be conveyed at railway risk, but should the passenger be prepared to accept responsibility for any damage which may occur they are conveyed free of cost. Nothing is known of the charge of 2s 6d which your correspondent alleges is made. Should any skis be presented after the departure of the two trains mentioned they are not accepted for checking because for the reasons already stated, we cannot guarantee room on the rail-car. There is no trouble in handling skis on the return journey because the Sunday night rail-car from the West Coast is always a double unit Should your correspondent still have any doubts on the matter I will be quite happy to discuss the matter with him.”]