RAILWAY TRAVEL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 91, 13 January 1944, Page 4

RAILWAY TRAVEL

Restrictions To Operate From Monday DEPLETED COAL STOCKS An announcement that severe restrictions on railway services, both passenger and goods, were to be imposed as from Monday, was made yesterday by the Minister of Railways, Mr. Semple. He said that this was necessary in view of the‘serious position, which had arisen through the depletion of railway coal stocks during the holiday period and because of the present industrial trouble in the mines in the Greymouth area. “The practice of issuing permits for passenger travel and restrictions on nonperishable goods traffic, which were put into operation in September, 1942, will require to be reimposed and will be applied to both North and South Island systems.” said the Minister. He added that there had been practically no coal production for the past three weeks and consequently there had been a big drain on the stocks of coal held by the Railways Department. Even at present it was necessary to transfer coal from depot to depot in order to keep the service running. Should the industrial position improve during the week the matter of curtailment of services would be further reviewed with a view to avoiding it if at all practicable, but it was considered advisable to make the position known to the public in order to reduce the inconvenience and hardship to a minimum. “It is with great regret that the decision to restrict services has been reached,” said Mr. Semple, “but this action is absolutely necessary in order that the essential transport work of the country can be carried out during the present coal shortage.”

NO LIMITED EXPRESS Details Of Intended Restrictions If restrictions on railway travel were necessary they would be similar to those imposed in September, 1942, when the Waikato mines were on strike, said the Assistant-General Manager of Railways, Mr. J. Sawers, in reply to an inquiryyesterday. That meant that the Limited expresses between Wellington ajid Auckland would be cut but, and that only the ordinary expresses would run on the Main Trunk line each day. Broadly speaking, there would be one express one way daily on the other main lines, making three return trips a week. For example, there would be one-way expresses each day on the NewT’lymouth, Napier and Rotorua lines.

Permits would be required for journeys in excess of 50 miles as hitherto, said Mr. Sawers, but the restrictions would not apply to suburban railway traffic. The last time restrictions were imposed they applied to the North Island only, but" if they were reimposed .they would be universal and apply to both islands. It would be possible to definitely by Friday -whether tfie restrictions were to be enforced or not.