RELIEVING N.Z.R. BUFFET STAMPEDES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22664, 15 June 1948, Page 4

RELIEVING N.Z.R. BUFFET STAMPEDES

TF Mr. Semple wishes to organise a feasible and most welcome improvement to the railway system, he should give serious heed to the continued expressions of dissatisfaction with the catering arrangements. A recent, correspondence topic in a 'Wellington newspaper disclosed the fact that, while some people—no doubt able-bodied and always ready for a hearty scrimmage—appeared to be content with the existing sandwich, squelching pie and bun fights in the station buffets, another section who wished to eat at leisure and in a more sedate atmosphere were. far from convinced that New Zealand was keeping abreast of the times. No letter, however, placed sufficient emphasis on the obvious remedy for reducing the tempo and almost frantic concentration of the station stampedes which arc giving the Dominion’s railways a bad name in the estimation of oversea visitors. The provision ox a cafeteria ear on all well-patronised express trains should to an appreciable extent relieve the congestion at the platform buffets and give elderly people, among others, a chance to fortify the innei man without the risk of inducing indigestion and being unpleasantly jostled in the rush. . ~ ... It cannot be suggested that a cafeteria ear would cope with the demands of a full train-load of passengers. . The station buffets will have to be retained. As long as this provision extends to the strategically placed dining-rooms, a return to the dining-cars which were in use before the First World War should not be liecessaiy. Since New Zealand rail journeys are comparatively short and many people do not wish to cat full meals in the course of them, a snack bar attached to every express should relieve the buftet rush and help to meet all demands comfortably.