NIGHT EXPRESSES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 127, 31 May 1928, Page 12

NIGHT EXPRESSES

IN THE SOUTH ISLAND TO COMMENCE ON 10TH JUNE The decision of the Government to commence the running of night pa.ssc.n-, gcr express train's between Christchurch and Invercargill was announced by tho Minister of Railways (tho Right lion. J. G. Coates) last evening. The new service will be introduced on 10th j June. Mr. Coates said that in tho past it had been customary to curtail the express passenger services during the winter months in the South Island, and inch curtailment, which, until a few years ago, made through connection between Christchurch and Invercargill only possible on two days a week (later inerensed to four days), was warranted by the falling-ofi: in passenger traflic that regularly occurs after Easter. This condition, although justified on railway economic grounds,, placed the South Island at a disadvantage compared with Iho North from a commercial aspect, in regard to both passenger travelling and mail connections. The problem was to devise a time-table that would make tho service more responsive to public requirements, while guarding as far as possible against placing any undue burden upon railway finances. After special investigation a method of meeting the difficulty had now been evolved, the principal feature being the running of night passenger trains. Tho night limited expresses in the North' Island, although introduced experimentally, soon proved; the most popular of services, not only bringing satisfaction to rail users, but also helped to augment substantially the numbers of long-distance passengers carried on the Main Trunk line. "It is hoped," said Mr. Coates, "that similar results will follow tho introduction of South Island night expresses. Some action in the direction of providing improved facilitieVis necessary, as the absence of suitable trains oil certain days has already given encouragement to the establishment of privately-owned road-using services between sifch places' as Gore and Invcrcargill." THE TIME-TAELE. Tho night expresses, which will commence?) running on 10th June, will be timed approximately as follows: — Southbound: Leave Christehurch for Invcrcargill at 10.30 p.m. on Sunda<ys, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Northbound: Leave Invercargill for Christchurch at C.40 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The through journey in each direction will occupy approximately 12"J hour's. This is not quite, so quick a through connection as' that provided, by the day express, because more stops'are being provided on the night run to suit public convenience. . The through "day" expresses will run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from Christchurch and Invcrcargill, tho remaining days being provided for by night services. The Christ-church-Invereargill through "day" express on Mondays will be replaced by the Sunday "night" express; but a Christchurch-Dunedin passenger service is being provided on Mondays to leave Christchurch at 8.50 a.m. and arrive at Dunedin at 5.23 p.m., replacing the 12.25 p.m. mail train on Mondays, but_ making more stops). Tho Sunday ' thigh t" express from Invercargill to Christchurch will replace the Monday "day" express. PROVISION OF SLEEPERS. "North Island passengers for Souther- stations arriving at Lyttelton by ferry steamer on' Sunday morning will bo able," said the Minister, "to leave Christchurch on Sunday night for any of tho principal main line stations instead of waiting until tho following day, as at present. Two sleeping carriages will bo provided on each of the night trains, in addition to ordinary first and second-class accommodation. Until tho traffic warrants the provision of permanent sleeping cars similar to those now in use on the North Island Main Trunk line, carriages with berths arranged longitudinally will be used. One sleeper on tho 'down' train will be used # for Dunedin passengers only; the car'will be detached at Duiiedin and the occupants will alight at their convenience. On the 'up' journey Dunedin passengers may join the car from 9 p.m. and retire at their leisure. Care will be taken to ensure that they are subjected to a minimum of noise and inconvenience whilst the sleeper is being attached to the train. Although the trains are being provided primarily to meet the requirements of through passengers, the maximum number of stoppages, consistent with the observance of a reasonably fast schedule will be observed. POPULARISING THE SERVICE. "It is confidently expected that the night services will quickly .become popular, and they should be of material assistanco in combating the competition of the motor services operating between Christchurch and Timaru, Christchurch and Dunedin, Dunedin and Palmerston South, Dunedin and Tapanui, Clinton and Gore, and Gore and Invercargill. Under present conditions a business trip from Christchurch to Dunedin involves an expenditure in time of at least three whole business days. By utilising tho night trains it will be possible to complete tho trip with a loss of business time of only one day. QUICKER MAILS. "The improvement in mailing conditions will also bo considerable.- At the present time the reply to a business letter posted at Wellington for Invercargill on Saturday is received at tho earliest on the following Friday morning. The new services will enable the reply to bo received on .Wednesday morning—a saving of two days. Similarly, tho reply to a letter .from .Christ-, church to Dunedin posted on Wednesday night may now be received on Friday morning. At tho present time this reply would not bo1 received until Saturday morning. "A further advantage of tho new arrangements is that the night expresses can be'used for parcels and perishables (such as the seasonal tomato and strawberry traffic) and will enable also an improvement in the fast 'goods services, bogie wagons of goods being forwarded to mako up full express train loads. "It is hoped that-the inauguration of the ney£ services will help in bringing about a substantial improvement in South Island transit that will have a beneficial effect throughout the whole Dominion.''