LOWER RAILWAY FARES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 10

LOWER RAILWAY FARES.

NEW EXCURSION RATES.

MORE SLEEPING CARRIAGES.

NEW TYPE WITH 24 BERTHS.

FORTNIGHT TO BOOK SEATS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. OWN COHnESrONDEKT. ]

WELLINGTON. Friday.

Concessions in excursion fares and improved facilities for railway (travellers are announced as part of the policy of tho Minister for Railways of popularising the services. Alterations in fares and the conditions on which tickets are issued were published in a special Gazette to-day. Theso alterations will operate from December 17.

Tho availability of tickets for ten miles and over, which in tho past has been restricted to three days, has now been brought into line with pre-war practice. Single tickets will be available for one month, and return tickets for journeys of over 20 miles may be used within three months.

Tho new sehedulo of excursion fares will be available for tho usual limited period. Tho extent of the reduction is illustrated by the faro for the first-class journey between Wellington and Auckland. Tho ordinary return faro is 131s; tho new excursion fare will bo 945, as compared with 96s under tho excursion tariff that bras been followed since 1920. The second-class return fare, which is 89s 4d ordinarily, will bo 62s 9d excursion.

For journeys of 50 miles, the ordinary return faros arc 15s lOd and 10s lOd first and second class respectively. Tho excursion fares will be lis 3d and 7s 8d respectively.

The three days' period for the reservation of seals is now being extended to a fortnight. This is in line with tho practice or reserving sleeping cars which has been in operation for some time.

To provide additional sleeping cars, the Railway Department is converting into sleepers a number of ordinary first-class carriages, which will be used temporarily. A special endeavour is being mado to make them comfortable for tho occupants. Each car will contain accommodation for 24 passengers.

Tho present intention is to use theso converted cars on the limited expresses until a new and improved design can be built. Eight day cars have been altered to provide sleeping accommodation. The berths arc arranged longitudinally or fore-and-aft, after the style of the .American Pullman. Tho berths are 6ft. 6in long, and are fitted with wire-woven mattresses. There is plenty of room for luggage and clothing. Tho upper berth folds into the slope of the ceiling, leaving the lower to be used as a seat.

The director of transportation, Mr. A. K. Harris, said to-day that tho experience gained with this stylo of berth would bo of distinct valuo when the new sleepers were designed. In any case the prompt provision of eight cars with 24 berths each should go far to relieve the inovitablo congestion of the holiday period.