New Week-end Rail Service From Coast Being Considered?

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 September 1949, Page 4

New Week-end Rail Service From Coast Being Considered?

The consistent demand for accommodation on the existing week-end railway services between Greymouth and Christchurch has led, it is believed, to official _ consideration being given to the provision of an alternative service. Present arrangements, with the Friday evening. railcar as the focal point, are not always; able to cope satisfactorily with the demand for transport. While no definite information can be obtained on possible changes, it has been stated that consideration has' been given to the provision of a special express train, leaving Greymouth at the present departure time of the rail-car. In the event of this service being instituted, the passenger cars on the goods train would be eliminated. Another reported proposal is that this special Friday night express would leave Christchurch on return to Greymouth on Sunday afternoons. The ideal answer to the demand for railway accommodation during the week-ends is, of course, the use of another rail-car, but it is reported that such units are not available in the country and may not be for some little time. In the meantime the statistics' in connection with week-end rail travel have been examined recently, and, it is understood, the decisions to be made on the future service will depend on the results of this investigation.