TRAINS FOR NATIONAL PARK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 7

TRAINS FOR NATIONAL PARK.

Sir, —You liave pointed out time atul again the need for a daylight express and have rightly emphasised the importance of advancing the undoubted advantages of tho National Park as a great national asset. Now, theiro is a daylight express, but to some extent its advantage to tho National Park has been groatlv neutralised by its not stopping at Waimarino. Tho train from Auckland passes through Waimarino station at about 3 p.m., so that one has to either stay off at Taumaranui and wait from 1.23 p.m. till 4.5 and reach Waimarino at 6.50, all but four hours later, or go on to Ohakuno arid return by the 4.15 train, reaching Waimarino at 5.35 (often later), move than 2£• hours later, and at an increased cost of 36 miles fares. From Wellington one would have to leave the express at Obakune at 3.12 p.m. and take tho 4..15 and reach Waimarino at about 5.35, about U hours after the daylight express had passed through. Now on Tuesday, December 29, we put in quite 10 minutes on tho day'iight express at Horopito waiting for the northward express to pass us, which time might Well have been utilised to stop at Waimarino. It seems to mo that it is an object to make that daylight train inconvenient so that those travelling by it are fewer than otherwise would bo. Surely the interests of many who would be glad to step off at Waimarino should lead to that express being a!', once timed to stop at tho portals "of tho National Park. Fred. H, Sriil.vcEn.