Southerner’s ultimate destination is profit

Press, 12 July 1988, Page 36

Southerner’s ultimate destination is profit

Report:

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor

Photographs by ROY SINCLAIR

The Railways Corporation is hoping that the introduction last week of its refurbished Southerner Express between Christchurch and Invercargill will lead once more to profits on passenger services on the main south line. Unlike the good old days when mighty Ja steam locomotives thundered at the head of the South Island Limited, the line — like many others in New Zealand — has produced a hefty loss. In fact, no passenger trains made profits during the 1970 s and 1980 s. “They were not expected to and, because the Government of the. day picked up the tab, there was no reason to,” said Railcorp’s manager of InterCity services, Mr Dave Lupton. Two years ago, the Government subsidy for long-distance rail services was $55 million. “With losses of this magnitude it is no wonder that proposals for reinvestment foundered,” he said.

“Now all that has changed. We have been told to make it pay — or else.” Mr Lupton said that the main problem with the original Southerner, the train that took over from the steam-hauled South Island express, was its limited capacity. “Loadings dropped simply because the new cars had insufficient capacity to cater for demand.

“At the same time, the improvements to the train - attractive though they were — meant that operating

costs were considerably higher. Unlike its predecessor, the Southerner never made a profit,” he said.

Nevertheless, Railcorp last year opted to grapple with the challenge of a poor image, old rolling stock, no money, and increasing competition from the deregulated airline and road service industries.

Railcorp was confident that it could boost its share of the market if it provided better facilities and service. “There is a strong preference among part of the travel market for rail travel and we believe we are now in a

position to turn that preference into profit,” said Mr Lupton.

At present the train has three cars with a total capacity for 127 passengers. Comfortable sheepskin-covered seats are grouped in fours around individual tables and carpet covers not only the floors, but also the walls to window level.

Gone are the days of the food stampedes at the traditional watering holes along the line. Instead, refreshments — including lamburgers, chicken, salads, and a revised version of the Great Railway Pie — can now be bought on the train and consumed in comfort at the tables.

FACT FILE: The Southerner Express departs Christchurch at 8.50 a.m. Mondays to Staturdays, arriving Timaru at 10.57 a.m., Dunedin, 2.45 p.m., and Invercargill, 6.30 p.m. (Other stops are also made.) Standard fares to these three cities are, respectively, $l4, $34, $54. Children aged 4 to 14 years are half price. Discounts are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. A special $2O same-day, round-trip fare is also available between Christchurch and Timaru. The north-bound express leaves Invercargill at 8.55 a.m. and arrives at Christchurch at 6.20 p.m. Reservations are advisable.