Rail head wants fewer stations

Press, 9 August 1980, Page 11

Rail head wants fewer stations

PA Wellington New Zealand’s railway network would survive if there were fewer stations than at present, according to the General Manager ■ of Railways (Mr T. M. Hayward). In the report of the Railways Department tabled in Parliament, Mr Hayward said that in all respects the railways must be used more intensively than they were at present. , “The New Zealand transport market is not large enough to support two fully competitive long-distance transport modes. The figures in this report suggest that it is hardly, large 'enough to support one,” Mr'yHayward said. .;. - He said that the year’s .result showed clearly a' depressed commercial market. . , During the year steps had been taken to review, some of the services in the “social sector.” ; These included the. withdrawal for conversion of the Silver Star as the first step towards introducing a single

h i g h-standard overnight , train service between Auck- ■ land and Wellington, a route ; where two trains could no , longer be justified. , • “Those who argue against ' the withdrawal of a littleused passenger service, or. . the closing of a redundant' t siding or a section of rail- [ way, are often highly criti- > cal of the cost of railway, services,” Mr Hayward said, j . “They create a further dilemma by advocating in- . creased rail-road competition! , while being unable to accept! any.’ resultant rationalisation! , of railway facilities aimed ati ! reducing costs,’’ he said. j t The number of long-dis- , tance passenger journeys dej creased by. 0.8 per, cent but| revenue increased by 5.7 peri . cent, thanks to ticket price .Increases in May and Octo-. ber, 1979.’ - . ' 1 Suburban passenger ,reveJ nue also increased, this time 1 1 by 18.4 per cent,: while’ the! number, of- suburban jour-j - ne'ys decreased by 4.6 per j cent. The price of tickets Tor 3 journeys rose in May, .1979, j and March, 1980.. ■ ,