SLOW COUNTRY TRAINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18706, 12 May 1924, Page 12

SLOW COUNTRY TRAINS.

SUGGESTED SPEEDING-UP. UNFAVOURABLE DECISION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.} TB AROHA. Saturday. : .t In response to the request of •■'•the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce to speed up the evening train from Thames - to Frankton, and continue .the ' journey V right through to Auckland, .where it suggested the train should ■ arrive at about eleven o'clock each evening, % the i Railway ' Department has advised that the application, which was supported by other i chambers, cannot be sanctioned. . The department's letter states that the suggestion that the afternoon trains from Thames, RotbruaV Cambridge V and Te Kuiti be speeded' up to reach Frankton at about 7.15 p.m. is quite impracticable, as two of these trains, | viz., the Cam-bridge-Frankton and the Te Kuiti-Frank-ton, are goods trains, with cars attached for the convenience of passengers who are ■! unable to - : avail themselves -of * trains provided for passenger service, i.e., these trains are ■ run primarily for goods traffic. If speeded up. their. usefulness, it is stated, would be seriously diminished, as their loads would have to be greatly reduced, and as a V consequence .it would be necessary to provide other trains : £ to cope with the goods traffic. ':, The Thames- ■ Frankton . and Rotorua-Frankton : are mixed ■ trains, and work considerable goods traffic en route. v ' In view of the impracticability of speeding up the various branch trains it appears hardly necessary to deal with question of the' provision of i a train to leave Frankton for Auckland at 7.45 p.m., the •' letter - continued. v V The ;,;• department is desirous of " affording the people every facility that is warranted by the business offering, but must be assured of a reason- ■. able monetary return before incurring such a heavy ; expenditure •as is involved in the running of a train from Frankton to Auckland and back (as a return train is necessary in order to balance the service). It is regretted therefore that the ; suggestion cannot ..be given effect to."