KING COUNTRY TRAIN SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12281, 27 May 1903, Page 5

KING COUNTRY TRAIN SERVICE.

OUR Otorohanga correspondent writes:—The present service is altogether inadequate to J tho requirements of this fast-growing disI trict. On Saturday last, although the train 1 left overloaded and reached Frankton Junction very late from that cause, she left 22 loaded trucks behind, and also a large number of empty I£ trucks, etc., that were badly wanted down the line. The special train that took Mr. Hall-Jones and parly up on that day, on hor return took over her proper load, and yet thdre were some 20 trucks, loaded and unloaded, left behind. The people here, now that the tri-weekly through service is inadequate (even with the larger engine now used) to move the traffic offering, ask for a daily service. An application has been made to the Railway Department to put heavier engines on this line if they will not increase the number of trains, but they state that the lino south of Frankton will not allow a heavier class of engine to bo used, and that they will run specials when required. But this is not what a new progressive district is entitled to. We want regular trains run «o a time-table. We know that there are four times as many trains run on the southern end of the Main Trunk as there are here on the northern end. The line will : be finished right through to Taumaranui on ' the Wanganui River in two months, and | ready to bo taken oveir by the working railj ways. This will be a good opportunity to end ! the present unsatisfactory position _ from ! Poro-o-tarao southwards, and also to give an | improved train service. Mr. Hall-Jones ' states that tho through service to Welling- : ton via the Wanganui River will be open by next tourist season, and this will undoubtedly | prove one of the most favourite trips in New 1 Zealand.