MAIN TRUNK TIME-TABLE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 14

MAIN TRUNK TIME-TABLE.

DAYLIGHT SERVICE, ' '' 'AGAINST THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS. \ : ; : ~~(bY TEtEGnAPn.—SPECIAL COKRESrONDENT). Auckland, May. 29. Tho "Herald" comes out with a strong v plea for a daylight service between Auckland and 'Wellington, on the opening of' tha main trunk railway. In its leading columns . ' appears the following:— , i " Tho near approach of the completion of tho Main Trunk Railway is placing upon tho Minister for Railways and his departroon- ?'•; • tal advisers tho very responsible duty of 'ar-. . . ranging tho through'express train time-table which will best meet tho requirements of the wholo of. the Dominion. Two schemes, arounder consideration,; one involving what - would be practically a daylight servico. ■ through tho North Island by trains leaving • Duncdin and Auckland _at 7 a.m. and 6-a.m. respectively, .and giving the interveningnight to the steamer run between AVelling- ;■ : ' ; ton and Lytteltori, tho other involving, what' would be practically a night service for the North Island by,.'trains' leaving Invercargill. ■ \ and Auckland at' 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. respectively. .. Apart from' the of Inver-. cargillj'therO'appears to be little doubt that ; the. railway' authorities prefer the schomo which would givo Auckland a daylight, ser•f-- * vice.-.- A -niglit servico -leaving Auckland at •' 10 p.m., as suggested by one of the two schemes, and arriving at Auckland on the return journey at 6 a.m., would riot be only, the more costly but less convenient and comfortablo for, the travelling public._ " A great number, of people will want to . make tho through journey from Auckland to •' Wellington, and vice versa, especially _iir ■ ■ tho summer time. By tho daylight service I*, ./ they can leave either North Island terminus' ; after a good night's' sleep— few travelV lers sleep well on a railway train—and wHI reach tlio other North Island terminus m • time-for another good night's rest. This 'i 7 , .v-.; would largely do away with one of the great-, est objections to railway travelling, and by , .convoniencing tho public would increase the ';•. , receipts of the Department. During the summer time, when the.public .demands upon,' . the sorvico would bo .there,; would ■ bo daylight during almost tho whole of , tho journey between Auckland and Wellington. Wiw This . should be''seriously considered in arranging a time-table, for it would be most ' • : rogrettablo if railway travellers wero whirled in tho darkness through scenery, which all ■ of them .would greatly,desire to view. From 'V... the public , point of, view there is everything to bo said m favoiir'of;daylight trainsl'-and , very little to bo advanced in.favour, of night• [■■ • '■' trains, under tho 'circumstances ' existing in | .. New Zealand." ■■■■;