Train Services

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 284, 16 November 1923, Page 4

Train Services

Speeding Up Wanted POSITION OF HAWKE’S BAY. NIGHT EXPRESS SUGGESTED. Improvements in the train services in Hawke’s Bay—the most important of which was that there should be u night express to Wellington—were urged at last evening’s meeting <«f the Napier Chamber of Commerce. The matter arose consequent on the receipt of a letter from Air A. E. Jull. It was decided to hold a meeting of the Transport Committee this morning, when Mr Jull will be present, to maku arrangements for a deputation to tho Hon. J. G, Coates, Minister of Railways. Air Jull wrote as follows:

“Might 1 suggest to your Chamber the advisability of taking advantage of the proposed visit of Mr J. G. Cates, Minister of Railways, to place before him the need of an improvement in our train services. 1 would stress three things:

(1; That Hawke’s Bay domestic railway requirements have been sacrificed to tho making of afternoon connection to Palmerston North. To illustrate this, 1 may say that no one south of Waipukurau can come and go to Napier by rail in the same day. The result is that the legitimate trade of a province is being driven to Palmerston and Wellington. (2) I am sure that hundreds of people, both business men an.] visitors, do not visit Napier because it means two whole days travelling to get one day in Napier. I would suggest that the Minister be urged to reinstate the second Auckland express leaving Wellington at 8.30 p.m. twice a week—a connection to be made at Napier and twice a week to New Plymouth with connections leaving Napier and New Plymouth at night. (3) Those people who have to make use of the 4.9 afternoon train from Napier to Waipukurau, particular! v those who have to travel Hastings, are deserving of some consideration. The time-table gives a sfop at Hastings of 21 minutes, which is some times much longer, and there is frequently a further stop of 20 minutes at Paki Paki if any shunting is necessary or if the mail train is at all late.

“You have only one good train a day in Hawke’s Bay, and that takes people away from Napier, but there is no decently timed train to bring people to Napier. ’ ’

Mr W. R. Griffith contended that Hawke’s Bay was better served now than it had been for years pastMr T. H. Ringland: The trouble is that you can’t get past Waipukurau after 12 o’clock. That is the last train to Palmerston.

SPEEDING UP THE EXPRESS. Mr C. H. Edwards: I would like to get to Wellington and return as soon as possible.

Air C. Kerr: Why not shelve this problem, and concentrate on expediting the express? I would suggest a night train to Wellington. Mr Edwards: You have had half-an-hour cut off.

Mr Kerr: Why not cut off two hours/ The express simple crawls from Takapau to Napier.

“We are very Unfavourably situated as far as train services are concerned, particularly to Wellington,’’ said Mr K. McLeay. Mr Kerr: What we want is a fast train leaving here at 9 o ’clock at night. Mr W. R. Griffith declared that if something w'ere not done motor car services would take away half tho revenue from the trains.

Mr L. S. McLurg suggested that tho Afinister should be approached regarding an excursion train to Westshore on Saturday afternoon.