Tranz-alpine Express

Press, 11 March 1988, Page 20

Tranz-alpine Express

Sir, —On Friday, February 26, a group of us (including two overseas visitors) took the day train trip to Greymouth. On booking on the Tuesday at Christchurch Railway Station, we

had asked specifically that we get seats in the observation car, and if the train stopped (at Hornby. We were assured categorically that we would have seats on the observation car, but that the train did not stop until Greymouth (it actually stopped at every station, including Hornby). On arriving to take our seats we found they were not in the observation car, which was empty. On protesting we were told that all seats were "panoramic” — obviously, they did; not know the meaning of the word. Without window seats, the journey itself we found cramped) and boring, apart from the sight of the gorges on the way back. A good commentator might have made all the difference, helping us appreciate the beauty) and history of our country. — Yours, etc., ); J. CULLEN. i March 1, 1988. i

[The Railways Corporation area operations manager, Mr B. C. Wilson, replies: "Mr Cullen telephoned a booking to■ our reservations office on Tuesday, February 23, for travel on February 26. Demand for seats in the observation car has been extremely high to the extent that it has been fully booked at times up to six weeks in advance. I find it difficult to accept, Therefore, that an assurance was given to Mr Cullen only three days in advance of a booking in that car. The observation car was fully booked in both directions on that day. Since its inception the train has always been programmed to stop at Hornby, and our counter and reservations staff are fully aware of this. The question of the commentary has beep taken up with the member concerned. This duty is performed) by the guard of the train and we have recently provided more) ; tuition on this aspect. In view) of the success of the observation-type windows, the refurbishing programme has now been extended to incorporate the large (windows on all cars on both the Tranzalpine and Picton Expresses.”]