WOULD NOT PAY

Evening Star, Issue 19175, 16 February 1926, Page 5

WOULD NOT PAY

HOT EXPRESS PROPOSAL AN ALTERNATIVE SCHEME A suggestion to run a night express between "Christchurch and Dunedin waa made by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, but the department has informed the 'Council of the chamber, which met last evening, that the traffic offering was not sufficient. The matter, wrote the Acting Secretary of the Railway Board (Mr H. P. Moir), would receive very careful consideration from the board when the Exhibition train service was under review, But the prospective business by night trains was not considered sufficeut to warrant the heavy expense involved in instituting and maintaining such a service. It had, in fact, been found that, except during the height of the passenger traffic at Christmas and New Year, the two expresses a day. occasionally supplemented by a third express, bad proved quite adequate. While it was recognised that a night passenger service between the two cities would be a convenience to a certain number of passengers, tlio board regretted that the amount was not sufficient to justify tlio addition of night trains.

Mr H. C. Campbell, mentioning that to all intents and purposes there was a night train, tlio “ goods,’’ that leaves at 9.50 and arrives in Christchurch at 9.35’ a.m., suggested that a carriage for “ through ,T passengers might be attached. The “ night goods,” lie declared, bad proved a great success. AS it was they had the benefit of a night mail.

After some dismission it was decided that members confer with Mr West, district traffic manager, on the subject.