RUN ON TIME

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 78, 27 December 1926, Page 10

RUN ON TIME

NEW ZEALAND TRAIN SERVICES WHAT THE FIGURES SHOW Does the running of trains in New Zealand compare favourably with . tne, running of trains in other countries t Interesting light is shed on this question (which is invariably discussed at holiday time) by some statistics recently prepared liy the Railway Department, showing the total number of occasions on which long-distance passenger trains reached their destination on time during .the last railway financial year. It is found that out of 9456 journeys, trains reached their destinations to the minute on 6529 occasions, an ontime average of nearly 69 per cent This result is regarded as being particularly striking when it is remembered that in New Zealand trains have frequently to travel through country the natural conformation of which presented engineering difficulties of great magnitude for solution. The figures given also take cognisance of delays due. to traffic contingencies, such as crossing/ trains, extra rushes of passengers, etc.,' and delays arising from slips, floods, etc., included in the term "act of God.” Tlie average late arrival of suburban trains operating in New Zealand during the same period was 0.68 minutes—so near to absolutely accurate running as to make the late running practically negligible. On long distance passenger trains the average late arrival was 5 minutes 54 seconds. As that includes the running of expresses in both islands, covering distances from 200 miles to 425 miles, the result is hfld to be a tribute to the efficiency of the transport arrangements and to the attention the staff has paid to the necessity for prompt running.