MAIN TRUNK LIMITED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 November 1924, Page 5

MAIN TRUNK LIMITED.

THREE HOURS’ SAVING. (By Telegraph—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. An early announcement regarding the inauguration of a limited Main Trunk' mail train between Auckland and Wellington is expected. It is proposed to reduce the number __ of stops, thus enabling the complete journey to be made in 16 hours. An experimental run between Wellington and Auckland in 1919 showed the possibility of a 14hour journey instead of the present 19 hours, though this would allow no margin for handling heavy passenger traffic. A curious difference of opinion regarding this service is evident in the annual railways statement. The General Manager’s section plumps for starting ‘ times which would enable the Ohakune to Taumarunui section to be traversed in daylight. This would he an attraction to tourists, and according- to the General Manager observation carriages would be attached to the limited train to enable passengers to appreciate fully the scenic beauties of the line along the central section. In the same report, however, the Minister of Railways definitely states that officers of the transportation branch are of opinion that the service should leave both terminal stations at about 7 p.m., reaching Auckland and Wellington respectively at about 11 a.m. , The Minister added that the stopping nlaces would be limited to Prankton, Taumarunui, Ohakune, Taihape, Marton Junction, and . Palmerston North. The two viewpoints , have evidently taken some time to reconcile, as the service was promised in November, and no schedule has yet been announced. It may, however, be taken for granted that within a few days the limited train schedule will be finalised and that it will be for a night service. While day running in the central section would be attractive to: tourists there would be little revenue derived, as few would travel specially between Auckland and Wellington for the purpose of viewing the scenery. The great bulk of steady traffic would be induced by the great advantage offered to the business people of being able to leave either city at night and arriving at their destination in time to do a day’s business and return to their original city next morning. This involves night running where the scenery is most picturesque, but its business advantages are beyond argument.