NIGHT EXPRESS TRAINS

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 19 July 1929, Page 8

NIGHT EXPRESS TRAINS

NEW PLYMO UTH-WE LLINGTO N - NAPIER. REQUEST BY CHAMBER OF * COMMERCE. The inauguration of a night express train -service was recently before the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, which decided to make- representations to the Railway Department. Following is a copy of the letter which was. sent to the General Manager of Railways by the chamber on Wednesday in pursuance of its decision. Copies of the letter have also been sent to the principal newspapers in the- districts affected and to the chambers of commerce concerned, who have been asked to write direct to the Railway Depart-J meat if they approve of the "proposal: “At a meeting of this chamber, held on July 9, the- question of establishing a night express service 'between Wellington and New Plymouth was discussed. and the opinion, was unanimously expressed that such a- service would not only prove of enormous advantage to the business community here-, hut would also be a profitable undertaking to the department Wo think that if Hawke’s Bay district could be catered for by the same -service most satisfac- i torv results would accrue to all parties. Various methods and schemes for carrying out the project have been < discussed by this chamber, and about < four years ago the following skeleton 1 proposals were placed before your department. ' " i

"It was suggested that a night train he arranged to leave New Plymouth, say. about 8 p.m.. a similar train leaving Napier about 10 p.m., eaeb train stopping at important intermediate stations on route to Palmerston North, at which point both trains would join up and proceed as one to Wellington. arriving there' some time between, say. 7 u.m. and 7.30 a.m. The return train service from AVellington to Napier and' New Plymouth would leave Wellington, say, about 9 min., dividing at Palmerston, the New Plymouth section reaching its destination about 8 a.m. and the Napier section arriving about 6.30 a.m. The times of departure and arrival suggested above are. of course, only approximate.

"This service would link up the most important, towns on east and west '•oasts respectively, and enable the public of New Plymouth or Napier to spend a day in Wellington without the loss of two. whole working days in travelling. The proposed service would also give the terminal towns of New Plymouth and Napier early trains in and late trains out. enabling country visitors to spend a full, day' in either place, returning the same day to their respective destinations. From a. departmental point of view, we venture to suggest that such a service would go tar to meet the competition of, motor services, and would, after n' trial, create a special traffic over and above the daylight service. ‘‘Tn suggesting this night service we wish to make it clear that we do not desire any alteration in the existing Wellington-Ne w Plymouth day express. We would add. too, that the oroposal received the support of the' Taranaki Farmers’ Union representative on the chamber, who stressed the inconvenience caused to farmers visiting Wellington in having to be absent from their farms for at least three da vs, v <> know that you will give this matter serious consideration, and we sinr,orel v trust that you will sec your wav to give the suggested service a trial.’’