Phone bookings accepted

Press, 14 May 1982, Page 5

Phone bookings accepted

The problems of handicapped people in making Railways bookings were the subject of an exchange in Parliament between Mr M. Moore (Lab., Papanui) and the Minister of Transport (Mr Gair). Mr Moore asked why the Railways would not accept bookings over the telephone, and whether the Minister was aware of the difficulties faced by handicapped people in making bookings. But Mr Gair said the Railways did accept telephone bookings for all rail ferry and long-distance passenger services. A date was then advised

by which purchase of tickets had to be made to confirm the booking. It was correct that Railways Road Services general policy was not to accept telephone reservations, Mr Gair said. Experience had shown that many passengers failed to travel after making telephone reservations, and genuine passengers had been turned away unnecessarily because seats were all reserved. The system was flexible and provision was made for telephone bookings to be taken from members of the public who would have difficulty in calling at a booking agency or office.