Rail ferries struggling to meet demand

Press, 10 March 1987, Page 14

Rail ferries struggling to meet demand

PA Wellington Cook Strait rail ferries are struggling to meet the demand for service under present roster systems, says the Sea Rail manager, Mr Ivan Gough. Demand for all services offered by the ferries showed a “fair” increase since last year, and so Sea Rail was studying rosters to accommodate more crossings by the present three-ferry fleet, Mr Gough said. If with more sailings there was still pressure on services, Sea Rail would buy a fourth ferry. Mr Gough declined to estimate the level of increase in demand for services, but said it covered everything from passenger numbers and accompanying cars to transport-

ing commercial vehicles and rail freight. The commercial vehicle and rail freight increase partly stemmed from the collapse of the Coastal Trader service between Auckland and Lyttelton at Christmas. A new fare structure offering cheaper rates for off-peak times in a threetier system was believed to be the reason for the over-all passenger increase. Sea Rail would examine rosters and sailings to find the best and most commercially suitable way to increase crossings by the three ferries and then discuss those rosters with the four unions involved, Mr Gough said. It was unlikely more ferry staff would be

needed to cover extra crossings. In past months increased rail freight has required unscheduled crossings, usually late at night and at considerable extra cost Mr Gough said the additional costs were largely a matter between management and unions, but industry sources say that at present one extra crossing a week is worth an additional $260 to $3OO for each crewman. Late last year the Engineers’ Institute and Sea Rail struck an agreement in which members were paid an allowance equivalent to the masters’ “living in Wellington award” — believed to be $3200 a year plus free taxis — in spite of the fact that many

engineers do not live in the Wellington district. Mr Gough said the settlement came after long negotiations. Railways gained in that it was no longer required to pay airfare and accommodation costs for out-of-town engineers. Instead, a lesser sum was paid direct as an allowance. He said the review of present demand and future estimates was still only partially complete and it was too early to say when subsequent recommendations would go before the Railways Corporation board. In the meantime, Sea Rail management was keeping up to date on world prices in case an additional ferry was justified.