SUBURBAN TRAINS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21449, 24 March 1933, Page 12

SUBURBAN TRAINS

IMPROVED TIME-TABLES

ECPNOMY IN EXPENDITURE

ALTERATIONS ON MAY 1

Improvements in the running of suburban and other train service? in the Auckland district, with a consequent reduction in expenditure to the Railway Department, wcro announced yesterday bv Mr. H. H. Sterling, chairman of the Railways Board. It is anticipated the alterations to passenger services will be effective from May 1.

"From a public viewpoint," said Mr. Sterling, "these alterations will give improved passenger services between Auckland and Helensville, and between Auckland and Papakura and connections southward, better passenger connections between the north and south lines, and a much better goods service between Auckland and Whangarei. They will also give departmental advantages in the relief of congestion at such centres as Huntly and Frankton' Junction, and provide facilities for better utilisation of car stock and engine-power.

Peak Hour Trains as Usual

"In the re-arranged time-table we have been able to maintain the suburban peak hour trains, that is, the morning evening workers' and business services, on their present schedules. At the same time, various alterations have been made in the trains running during the slacker hours which, notwithstanding that the engine mileage, or the effective service to the public, will be increased, will enable the services to be worked at a very substantial reduction in costs. "I desire to emphasise that some of the improvements can be maintained only if substantial public support is forthcoming," said Mr. Sterling. "Much thought has been given to the transport requirements of the various areas covered by these proposals, and it is hoped that, whon the full import of the changes is understood, the revised time-table will have the practical approval of those for whom the improved services have been specially planned."

Details of the Changes

An official statement from the department gives the following particulars of tho services indicated by Mr. Sterling:—

A now passenger train, via Orakei, will leave Auckland at 9.45 a.m. for Otahuhu, returning, leaving Otahuhu at 10.37 a.nt., and arriving at Auckland at 11.3 a.m. This will fill a gap in the present service on the deviation.

The present 7.10 a.m. train from Maungaturoto to Auckland will be changed to leave Maungaturoto at 6.30 a.m. and Helensville 9.47, and is accelerated to arrive in Auckland at 12.5 p.m., instead of 2.7 p.m., allowing travellers by this train two hours longer in Auckland. With this improved schedule tho present 8.25 a.m. Helensville-Auckland train will not be required. Some minor alterations in the week-day trains will also be made, but not in tho peak traffic hours.

Improvements in Saturday trains have also been arranged. For instance, the present 11.31 a.m. Auckland-New Lynn train will run to Henderson, and the present 12.11 p.m. from New Lynn to Auckland will run from Henderson (12.29 p.m.) and arrive at Auckland at 1.19 p.m. A new train will leave Helensville at 1.25 p.m., arriving at Auckland at 4.10 p.m. The present 5.22 p.m. Auckland-Whanga-rei train will be altered to leave Auckland at 5.5 p.m., and, with restricted stops, will arrive at Whangarei at 11.48 p.m., 46 minutes earlier than at present. The present 6.24 p.m. Auckland-Swan-son train will Tie extended to arriving there at 8.35 p.m.

, Goods Traffic to Whangarei

By instituting a through night goods train from Auckland to Whangarei, in lieu of certain other services, goods consigned at Auckland up to 5 p.m. and arriving from south of Auckland by rail up to 10 p.m., will be landed at Whangarei at 10.35 a.m. next morning, practically a day earlier than at" present. The 9.45 a.m. passenger train from Frankton to Auckland will leave 10 minutes earlier and arrive at Auckland at 1.44 p.m., 27 minutes earlier than at present. It will also make some additional stops in the outer suburban area. An adjustment of the schedule of the train with a passenger car attached, which at present runs southward ahead of the 3 p.m. express from Auckland until it is overtaken by the express at Tuakau, has been made. This train will leave Pukekohe after the south-bound express. This will enable passengers who desire to travel in the afternoon from Auckland to stations between Pukekohe and Mercer to leave Auckland by the 3 p.m. express, travel by that train to Pukekohe, and thence to their destination by the altered train.

The 4.20 p.m. Auckland-Frankton train will make a now stop at Manurewa, and new stops will also bo provided for on the 6.30 p.m. Auckland-Frankton Saturday train at Papatoetoe and Manurewa. A new passenger train will leave Auckland for Papakura at 8.50 a.m., serving as a convenient feeder train for the Tau. ranga express. It will return, leaving Papakura at -11 a.m., and arriving at Auckland at 11.51 a.m. This service will make for better spacing of the morning suburban trains between Auckland and Papakura. Other adjustments of suburban services are being made in this area, but they are all slight in nature. New Saturday connections for the Waiuku branch "will enable passengers to leave Waiuku at 4.30 p.m. and arrive at Auckland at 6.20 p.m., and to leave Auckland at 6.30 p.m., arriving at Waiuku at 8.30 p.m.