AUCKLAND TRAINS TO-DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18694, 28 April 1924, Page 8

AUCKLAND TRAINS TO-DAY.

EIGHT FIXED FOR SUBURBS. NORTH AND SOUTH LINES. "MIXED" FRANKTON SERVICE TO AND FROM THE CITY. Compared with the tranquility of a few days ago, Auckland railway station presented a fair measure of animation on Saturday. Four- trains were despatched to stations on the south line as far as Papatoetoe, and the same trains on their return journeys brought <"ountry passengers into the city. . To-day, there is to be a substantial augmentation of the suburban service, and arrangements have been made which will put Frankton Junction once more in rail communication with Auckland, although only one inward and one outward train will at the outset be put on this run. A provisional time-table has been arranged, and copies of lhu were forwarded on Saturday to the stations concerned. There were no arrangements for the running of trains yesterday, and Auckland station was closed. The time-table prepared for to-day's service shows that nine trains arc intended to be despatched outwards, five running on the south line, and four, from Newmarket, on the north route. Details are as follow: —

FROM AUCKLAND: Depart. Arrive 6.30 a.m. Papakura, 7.38 a.m. 7.10 a.m. Papatoetoe, 7.52 a.m. 1.0 p.m. Frankton. 5.35 p.m. 4.13 p.m. Papatoetoe, 4.56 p.m. 4.30 p.m. Papakura, 5.36 p.m. TO AUCKLAND: Depart Arrive. Papatoetoe, 8.8 a.m. 8.47 a.m. Papakura, 8.0 a.m. 9.5 a.m. Frankton, 7.10 a.m. noon Papatoetoe, 5.16 p.m. 6.0.p.m. Papakura, 5.50 p.m. 6.58 p.m. FROM NEWMARKET: Depart Arrive 6.40 a.m. Henderson, 7.28 a.m. 10.34 a.m. Henderson, 11.20 a.m. 1.29 p.m. Henderson, 2.13 p.m. 4.23 p.m. Henderson, 5.5 p.m. TO NEWMARKET: Depart Arrive Henderson, 7.45 a.m. 8.30 a.m. Henderson, 11.56 a.m. - 12.45 p.m. Henderson, 12.24 p.m. 3.11 p.m. Henderson, 5.10 p.m. 5.55 p.m. Certain of the Auckland trains will make convenient connections with the Newmarket trains on the Henderson service. Of the trains scheduled for today, only two, the inward and outward Frankton trains, are mixed. The others are purely for passenger service. Except for the departure and arrival of the four trains there wan no incident of moment at the station on Saturday. At the level crossing, between Quay Street and Customs Street there was the usual number of strikers, Together with a number of others who, t*s one phrased it, " never work." Nona of the four trains carried many passengers. The eight-coach train which left at 7.10 a.m., had but one booking from Auckland and a few othersthey could b(. counted on the fingers — joined at intermediate stations. The train arrived at Papatoetoe at 7.50 a.m., and '.eft on return at 8.8 a.m. On the inward journey passengers were picked up at every station, and at . Auckland about 50 people descended. The inward travellers were, in the main, business people, who, during the earlier days of strike had had to rely upon motor buses or transit. An inspector acted as guard. Neither in departing nor in coupling up for the return run was there any delay. Punctuality, as a matter of fact, characterised the departure of all the four trains, each getting away to the minute. The second train, which left at 11 a.m., carried nearly 40 passengers, and the third departure at 1 p.m., carried over 50 travelling outwards. The final train, leaving at 4.13 p.m., carried only 15 people from Auckland. On the return journeys, fair numbers were carried. Th© four trains were not special trains; they were ordinary departures- running at the usual times of suburban trains and, with slight modifications, :oniplied with time-table details. The services are being arranged to suit the convenience of business people, and this aim will be kept in view as train after train is added. Although early intimation was displayed in the Auckland station on Saturday of the running 0 I: the four trains, a large proportion oj: the oublic did not knov of the facilities afforded them. Just after the 4.13 p.m. train had. gone, a belated passenger came to one of the closed gates and asked the stationmaster: "Anything running to-night?" The official replied with a counterquestion : " Where do you want to go —Wellington?" " No, to Papatoetoe." said the late arrival. When ho was told he had just missed the last train he went sadly away to seek some other means of travel.