TRAVEL BY RAIL

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 151, 23 March 1925, Page 8

TRAVEL BY RAIL

EFFECT OF EPIDEMIC LOSS ON YEAR PREDICTED SHORTER AND FASTER TRAINS That the railway year would have been most satisfactory but for the prevailing epidemic was the opinion expressed by the Minister of Railways in his reply to a deputation at Napier on Saturday. The Minister referred to the proposed introduction of shorter and faster trains, adding that the Government was out to give the travelling public ser /ice. By Telegraph—Press Association Napier, March 22. “We have only just started on the fringe of reorganisation, and have only just endeavoured to deal with the main services,” stated the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Railways) in reply tef a deputation from the Napier Chamber of Commerce, which had brought several railway matters before him.

“Intermediate and suburban services have not yet been tackled,” continued tiie Minister. “In the past our policy has been to have long trains carrying to the full capacity of the engine, and running at a speed which, as an economical proposition, was correct. Now we propose to run snorter and faster trains, in the hope that we shall be able to pick up enough revenue to pay for the extra mileage run. We shall have Mr. S. E. Fay here shortly, and shall then have the benefit of his assistance. We are out to get your assistance and give you service. “The question of pounds, shillings, and pence, of course, must not be lost sight of. This year would have been a most satisfactory one had it not been for the prevailing epidemic. You will hardly credit it, but up to date we are down nearly half a million passengers on last year, representing in revenue up to £BO,OOOO or £90,000. By the end of the year, I anticipate that we will be down £150,000. That is short of paying 3} per cent. “Goods traffic, on the other hand, does show a satisfactory increase. There is a distinct improvement all round, and that is encouraging. With that we will be able to pull up some of the losses on the passenger service. The control of goods, too, has been undergoing a complete overhaul, and we are anxious to expedite delivery.” Later the Minister stated, in reference to week-end excursions that the matter had been under consideration. He realised that a good deal could be done with excursion fares, and that they had to urge more people to travel on the railways. He had every confidence in the future. He was not going out of his way to encourage people to travel on Sundays, but wherever there was a legitimate demand for a service it would be provided. “We are out to give service,” added Mr. Coates. The deputation congratulated the Minister upon the recent improvements and his evident desire to bring about a better state of iffalrs.