Railwaymen ‘demand’ postponement of new schedules

Press, 17 January 1979, Page 2

Railwaymen ‘demand’ postponement of new schedules

* Greymouth reporter Five branches of the Nat-, lonal Union of Railwaymen,’ meeting in Greymouth! yesterday afternoon, deplored the decision to alter the present railway passenger timetable between the, West Coast and Canterbury! without consultation with • them. The Canterbury,! Springfield, Otira, Grey-| mouth, and Westport; branches decided to send telegrams to the Minister of j Railways (Mr MacLachlan)! and to the General Manager! of Railways (Mr T. M. Hay-; ward) to “demand that the proposed alterations be postponed.” They will also ask that, the Minister keep a promise! he made Li August last year( of “a 12-month stay of execution of altered timetables,” j Copies of the resolution’ will be sent to the national | office of the union, and the| general secretary will be: asked to take an interest in the suggested stay in imple-: menting the new system' “but that branches are to re-1 tain local autonomy at this! stage pending further meetings.” The secretary of the; Canterbury branch of the!

union (Mr B. Foley), who, was accompanied by the! branch president (Mr I. J. I . Keenan), described the dis-! I'cussions as “harmonious." However, the suggestion ’that local autonomy be re-1 tained could mean that there; ijis not full agreement on the! ''proposals. The Canterbury; i branch is particularly keen! to ensure that the early-; morning rail unit from! •I Christchurch to the West; t( Coast is retained but the; I Greymouth branch had earl-! iier expressed interest in! II seeing the proposed new! timetable’s being given a 'chance ■ The Westport branch representatives could not be reached but a Westport! i spokesman, including the; iMavor of Westport (Mr J.| •|Dellaca) have come out in; favour of the early-morning, j service. In addition. Mr Del-; i;!aca is against an earlier de-! Ilparture of the mid-morning! ■ I railcar to a proposed 8 a.m ■ •:from Greymouth to Christ-; i church instead of 10 a m. : This would mean that pasi sengers from Westport who! • | travel by Railway Road Ser- 1 ; vices bus to join the rail! Jpassenger unit at Stillwater; ; would have to leave home I about 5.30 a.m. to make the! : i connection.