NIGHT EXPRESSES

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 May 1928, Page 5

NIGHT EXPRESSES

CH.CH—INVERCARGILL SERVICE. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 30. The Minister of Railways, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, announced to-night that on June 10, the running of night expresses would be commenced in the South-Island on the Christchurch — Dunedin —Invercargill run. This decision follows representations made by Messrs Adam Hamilton-(lnvercargill), Downie Stewart (Dunedin), H. Holland (Christchurch), and other South Island Members of Parliament. Mr. Coates said he had consulted with Mr. u. H. Sterling, the newly-ap-pointed General Manager of Railways, regarding the South Island timetable, and the problem was to devise a timetable that would make the service more responsive to public requirements, while guarding, as far as possible, against placing any undue burden upon the railway finances. ’ Commencing on June 10, a night express will commence running approximately as follows: —Leave Christchurch for

Invercargill at 10.30 p.m. on Sundays. Wednesdays and Fridays. Leave Invercargill for Christchurch at 6.40 p.m. cn Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The through journey in each direction will occupy approximately 12?. hours. This is not so quick a through-connec-tion as the day express, because more stops are 1 provided on the night run to suit public convenience-. The position now is that day expresses run on Tuesdays, Thursdays arid Saturday from Christchurch and from Invercargill; the remaining days being provided by night services. The Christchurch — Invercargill through day express on Mondays is replaced by a 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. This re-

places the 12.25 p.m. mail train on Mondays, but it will make more stops. A Sunday night express from Invercargill to Christchurch will replace the Monday day express. North Island passengers arriving at Lyttelton by the ferry on Sunday will be enabled to leave Christchurch for the south on Sunday night, instead of waiting till Monday, as at present. Two sleeping carriages will be provided on each of the night trains. Under present con-

ditions a business trip from Christchurch to Dunedin involves at least three whole business days. Utilising

night trains will make a complete trip possible, with the loss of only one business day. The system will save two days in mailing from Wellington to Invercargill, and a day from Christchurch to Dunedin. Night expresses can be used for parcels and perishables.

BUS SERVICE MANAGER. WELLINGTON, May 30. In view of the expansion of the Railway Department’s road transportation facilities, it has been decided to appoint a manager to the sole charge of the Department’s bus services for the whole of the Dominion. The Prime Minister announced today that the position had been filled by the appointment of Mr J. Carnachan, of Palmerston North, an officer with a long and varied experience. The stated object of the new arrangement is to place the control of the Department’s bus service on the same footing as would apply were they being conducted by private enterprise. The services must necessarily be elastic, and it was therefore considered desirable not to try to put them in with the ordinary departmental machinery. The decision to appoint a manager to control the service is regarded as a clear indication that the Department is out to meet the public requirements in every respect.