RAILWAY TRAVEL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21303, 15 January 1944, Page 4

RAILWAY TRAVEL

CUT IN SERVICES

RESTRICTIONS MONDAY

SOUTH ISLAND ONLY

(P.A.) 'WELLINGTON, Jan. 14. The Minister of Railways, the Hon. R. Semple, announced to-day that a further review had been made of the coal position as affecting the railway service, and although there had been a partial resumption of work at the colil mines it would be necessary to impose rail restrictions throughout the South Island as from Monday, January 17.

"The coal position so_ far as the railways are concerned in the North Island is somewhat better than in the South, and it is not proposed to introduce restrictions in the North Island in the meantime, blit they may be necessary at a later date should the coal position deteriorate,” said Mr. Semple. The Minister appealed to people generally throughout the country to retrain from unnecessary travel at this juncture in order that the normal rail services throughout the Dominion might be restored as soon as possible The Railway Department stated that restrictions in the South Island on rail traffic would mean that permits would be required for journeys of 50 miles or more, express services would be curtailed, and there would be some restriction on the carriage of certain commodities.

Before the Minister’s announcement quoted above was made, some very drastic curtailments were under consideration for the Gisborne railway, including not only a three-day a week service but also, it is understood. Ihe running of the Gisborne-Wcllmgton express only as far as Napier so that passengers travelling further south than Napier would have had to spend an afternoon and night in that town.