RAIL-CAR TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 150, 22 December 1938, Page 8

RAIL-CAR TRAFFIC

(To the Editor.)

' Sir, —In the interests of fellow-trav-ellers on the 8.35 p.m. WellingtonUpper Hutt rail-car on a recent evening, I would like to draw your attention to the following fact: at least six persons, travelling beyond Melling, were told that they v would have to wait an hour for the 9.31 train, as *he rail-car was already loaded to capacity at 8.30 p.m. It seems a pity that the Lower Hutt and Melling people have to use the rail-car when an adequate road bus service is provided for their benefit. As this is a regular, happening every Tuesday (except when the car was replaced by the steam train), I would be interested ti know what the Railway Department intends doing in the matter. —I am, etc., FED UP.

[The Railway Department states:— Passenger traffic on the 8.35 p.m. railcar to Upper Hutt fluctuates considerably and, while the carrying capacity of this vehicle is usually sufficient for the traffic offering, in a few instances a small number of occasional passengers have not been able to find accommodation on it owing to the car being already fully loaded. Preference is, of course, given to passengers for the longer distances, but those for stations up to Lower Hutt are permitted to join the car close to the starting time providing room is available. In this respect it should be recognised that, whilst the rail-car has a greater capacity than road service vehicles, there may be occasions when all who desire to travel by, any particular car cannot be accommodated, but such occasions are rare. In , any case accommodation can be ensured and inconvenience avoided by reservation. The same position, of course, applies (to an even lesser degree, however), to trains. The matter of accommodation on the service specifically referred to by this correspondent is closely watched by the Department and, as the traffic warrants, a steam service is run in place of the rail-car]