RAILWAY SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17111, 17 March 1919, Page 6

RAILWAY SERVICES.

• ; " ■ !'■;■ CASE FOR NORTH SUBURBS. ,-. SPEEPING-UR URGED. REQUEST FOs AN EXPRESS. Acute .discontent with' the present sailway service on the \Korth Auckland suburban line is stated by Mr, C. J. Vim M.P. for Eden, to exist throughout his electorate. He wrote" on Saturday to Mr. R. W. McVllly, General Manager of New Zealand Railways,, on 'tho/subjetfb,: stating, that it aidants in the norths suburbs of Avondale, New Lynn, Woikumete, Henderson, and Swanßou complained of the. slowness of the service. - , The communication went on -to state, tfoft Mr. Parr last week found that it occupied just holf-an-hour to travel throe miles, from Auckland to Mount,. Edeni Further, it took over one hour on.the fastest trains to go from ■ Auckland » •Henderson, a distance of only 14 miles. Air. Pan- urged that some steps bo taken to speed ftp this service, arid so allay the dissatisfaction that, at presen existed. Ho quite appreciated the difficulties under which the' Department laboured. He knew that there were over 500 engine-drivers still absent on active service. Another terious difficulty was that the alignment and the grades of the present northern suburban route were-abominably had. .Flo doubt the line,.- to be really effective, should be duplicated, but, this, he knew, meant a very largo outlay. •■-.••■; , ( ." Mr. Parr wont onto.say that tho round-. about curve through Newmarket meant that every passenger travelled over two miles of unnecessary journey. In preference to duplication of tho suburban lino, fat thought it would bo much better to shorten it, either by corning into the city from Morningtide to tho Town Hall by a tunnel, or by, an alternative route to New Lynn or Henderson, through Ponsonby, and along tho waterfront. A report was promised upon this- aspect of the matter fa Mr. Hiley, and Mr! Parr said! he would be glad if a trial survey of the proposed Morriinufiide route could be expedited. , The present slow time-table .was operating very much aqainst the use of the hot springs -tit Helensville. He asked, that, tending the reinstatement of ( tho . whole pre-war service, one fast, train at least, preferably an express, should be restored to and from Helensville every day. such as was enjoyed before the war. If this were granted, 'it would tend* to allay discontent Until more railway men returned from active service.