MORE TRAINS WANTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13852, 11 September 1908, Page 5

MORE TRAINS WANTED.

THE AUCKLAND-HELENSV'iLLE LINE Tub following petition, signed by a large number of residents in the Kaipara district, has been forwarded to the Minister for Railways :— We beg to call your attention to the need for improvement in the working of the Auckland-HelensvilJe railway. It is 20 years or more since the line was opened, and since then numerous improvements in the permanent way have been made, such as reducing grades, straightening curves, and laying heavier rails, and yet the time-table is the si-nie a.s at first, viz., about three hours from Helensville to Auckland, averaging 13 miles an hour. We would suggest for your consideration the following (1) That another train per day in each direction be run, taking goods only, thus allowing the present trains, or at any rate the morning and evening trains, to go through without shunting. The time could thus safely and easily be shortened by 30 or 40 minutes. (2) That, say, two trains per week in each direction run as express trains, stopping at Waitakerei and Newmarket. The distance could thus easily be done in lh. 45rii. The days might be Monday and Thursday north, and Wednesday and Saturday south. (3) That the race meetings at Avondale be not allowed to interfere, as. at present, with the ordinary time-table. At present the travelling public are put to great inconvenience to suit mere holiday makers and betting men.