FIVE SHILLINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 13

FIVE SHILLINGS

THE MILES IT BUYS

RAILWAY CHEAPER FARES

A correspondent having written complaining ot: passengers having to stand oil the Thorndou-Paekakariki Sunday train, during certain parts of the jourucy, an "Evening Post" representative referred the matter to the Department of Railways, whose reply was that the Department was always prepared to welcome increasing passenger traffic by providing- therefor. In anticipation of summer traflic on the Thorndon-Paekakariki-Pnlmerstoii is rorth run, the Department would increase the service, the extra trains beginning on "9th November.

it was explained that there were two factors operating on this run —(1) the cull of the sea beaches from Porirua northward, aud (2) the development ol' new traffic between Wellington and Palmerstou North owing to the cheaper fares. The call of the benches has always been there, but inter-city traffic between Wellington and Palinerston North was entering a new phase, stimulated by the lower day-return rates. People in Wellington were beginning to find out what a populous and attractive town Palmerston North is. Again, families in Palmerston North and families in Wellington were discovering that it was possible to exchange visits at much less than any possible road rates, seeing that the second-class Sunday day-return rate between the two cities was only live shillings— v very cheap fare even j'u depression time.

The effort to increase traffic having achieved its object—with, of course, some resultant inconvenience to travellers between intermediate stations who found longer distance passengers already in possession—the expansion of tho service would proceed by initiating on 29th November a, four trains Sunday service from Tliorndon to Paluierston North. One through train to Palmerston North would leave Thorndon at 5.40 a.m. (four stops only en route) and another at 9 a.m. (stopping all stations). On the Sunday afternoon two other trains would leave Tliorndon for Palmerston North, one at 4.30 (four stops only) and one at 5 (all stations). Prom tho Palmerstou North end, Sunday trains would run to Thorndon as follows: At 5.05 a.m. (four stops), at 8.50 a.m. (all stations), at; 4.25 p.m. (four stops) and at 4.4U p.m. (all stations). So much for through trall'ic. As for the suburban traffic, tho Department further explained that Wellington Sunday trippers who go to Plimmertoii, or Paekakariki, or Otaki, and who at present might occasionally find the returning trains already full, would find a different state of affairs on. and after 29th November, because Otaki, and Paekakariki, and Plimmerton would each bo the starting place of a Sunday train returning to Wellington. The starting times of these three trains would be: Otaki, 5.5 p.m.; Paekakariki, G. 53 p.m.; Plimmerton, 5.34 p.m.. To complete the story, there would be running also the following suburban trains, outward from Wellington, on Sunday afternoon: 2 p.m., Wellington to Otaki; 4 p.m., Wellington to Plhninertou. Co-operation between thn Department; of Railways and the Upper Hutfc Borough Council has revived Sunday trains on that line, with excellent summer prospects both in Hutt Valley arid Wairarapa. 'flits Hull i Valley line has no sr:i beaches, but 'it has beautiful busli, si reams, laud mountains, a -public picniek'big ground at Upper Hull, and innumerable camping spots over miles of open counts'}'. Of course, Jlastcrton is mil, a Pnlmorston North, but has every intention jof becoming one, and the people there appreciate the five shillings second class return fare to and from Welling-, ton, available on any day—not merely on Sunday, as in tho case of l-'almcrstou North. The Waivarapa people's response to all round cheaper fares is shown by the first nine weeks of the new passenger tariff. During the nine weeks SOOO passengers liavo been carried over the Wairarapa line, nearly three times as many as the- number carried during tho corresponding nine weeks of last year —3000.

Such of the CHblo nous on (his pane .13 t'l bo beaded bas appeared In "The Times" and in cabled to Australia and New Zealand by tspedal permission. It should Ire undenstonrt that the opinions are not. those of "Tin; Timer."

iin]f?s eiprciflj slated ii> be so.