King Country Chronicle Saturday, December 6, 1924. THE TRAIN SERVICE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 2052, 6 December 1924, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, December 6, 1924. THE TRAIN SERVICE.

Further investigations is regard to the new, express train service to be inaugurated after the holidays go to prove that if brought into operation the people of this district will be in a very much worse position than they are under the present service. While the new order of things may be a great advantage to those living in Wellington and Auckland, and also to those in the towns which are privileged by being selected as a stopping place for the fast “limited" express, so far as Te Kuiti is concerned, it will be a serious matter, and residents are going to suffer very great inconvenience by only having the services Of a train which is not in any way suitable when travelling either north or south.

The new service provides for a train leaving Wellington about 8 a.m. and this will stop here about'B.3o p.m., arriving in Auckland at midnight. This is the only express train available for passengers from this town, and if they wish to transact any business in Auckland, they must stay over two nights, as the only available return express will leave at 8 o’cloek next morning, and they would have to postpone their journey till the following day. The south' bound express will stop here about 11.30 in the morning, and this will necessitate an overnight stop at Marton and Palmerston North for passengers wishing to connect with the New Plymouth and Napier trains. r So much for the inconvenience that local residents will be put to, but there is also the question of the tourist traffic. With the growing importance of Te Kuiti as a tourist centre, there seems to be sound argument in favour of both the expresses stopping here, otherwise many sightseers will not be given thg opportunity of visiting the Waitomo Caves. The overland motor route to New Plymouth will also be missed by many, and this is considered to be one of the finest motor trips in the Dominion. Te Kuiti is going to suffer mere than any other town by reason of no provision being made for a stopping place for the fast “limited” express. Instead of being brought into closer touch with the larger centres, this town will become more isolated than ever. The Minister has stated that to alter the time-table so as to allow the fast express to stop at Te Kuiti would be establishing a precedent, and practically make it impossible to provide a fast express service. However, Te Kuiti is going to sulfer to a much greater extent than any other town putting in a claim for a stopping and ifr should be the objective of tne people of this district to explain the facts to Mr Coates before finality has been reached in the drawing up of the time-table.

This town is the railway centre for one of the largest districts in the North Island, and the providing of an adequate train service is as essential to those living in the back country as those in the towns. As will be seen in another column, Mr Rolleston is in communication with the Minister of Railways on this matter, and it is to be sincerely hoped that consideration will be given to the request to have Te Kuiti a stopping place for both the expresses. The time-table for the fast “limited” express would be much more suitable for the people of this district if a stop was made here, for it would be even more convenient than the present service. There should be no desire to hampetf' the Minister in his efforts to provide a better train service, for the difficulties he has to contend with in trying to please all sections in connection with this matter are quite apparent. However, this district has a very tangible grievance, and if there are any benefits to be derived from the evident desire to improve the train services of the country we have a right to participate in them.