RAIL-CAR ACCOMMODATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 November 1944, Page 4

RAIL-CAR ACCOMMODATION

VACANT SEATS LAST EVENING.

The absurd situation of the existence of a standing list of 159 people, in addition to the 50 who had secured seats, for the rail-car to Christchurch, coupled with the departure of the car with standing room available for two passengers unclaimed arose at the Greymouth railway station, last evening. After calling 68 names on the standing list and receiving a poor response, an official inquired if among those on the platform there were any who desired to make the trip; insufficient people responded to fill the car. Officials later commented that it was obvious people had placed their names on the standing list without the least intention of travelling by the car, with the result that not only had it been made falsely to appear there was an immense demand for seats, but an enormous amount of extra clerical work and time had been taken unnecessarily. When the perishable goods tram left it had four full cars with about 148 passengers from Greymouth, including 33 to whom tickets were sold at the window before its departure, while two cars were reserved for passengers en route. No one was turned away. Incidentally, the persistent rumour that a “miners’ special” was to be run proved quite groundless, and it was apparent that no need existed for either a special or a doubleunit car.