RAIL-CAR FARES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 8

RAIL-CAR FARES

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Children attending Masterton schools returned there for the opening of the new term on the afternoon of Monday, September 14. Upon endeavouring to book a seat by the rail-car leaving at 3.30 p.m. I was informed that the return concession ticket, held by my child did not entitle her to travel by the rail-car unless excess fare, which 'amounts to an ordinary single fare, was paid. The alternative to payment of this excess fare was to travel by the ordinary train ,in the morning. Surely soifie arrangement might have been made whereby the return concession tickets might be available for the rail-car at a nominal amount and not at the full single fare as asked by the Department?—l am, PARENT.

[ln reply to the above correspondent the Railway Department states that the present very low fares in operation on the steam trains between Masterton and Wellington were introduced ,to counteract the loss of time occupied in traversing the route between Cross Creek and Summit over the Rimutakas. With the introduction of rail-cars the quality of the service has been tremendously improved and the adverse time factor is« completely eliminated, thus justifying the reinstatement of the ordinary second-class fare. The retention of the special competitive ■ fare will remain in existence only until the full rail-car time-table is instituted and steam services are eliminated, and for the reasons stated above the special fare is available only on the steam services. A passenger who purchases a 5s concession ticket and desires to return by rail-car can do so on payment of the ordinary single fare which, combined with the concession steam train fare, is equal to the second-class return fare only.]