TRAINS DELAYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23431, 22 August 1939, Page 8

TRAINS DELAYED

LATE DEPARTURE SPEAKER AND M.P.'S TRAVEL ! problem of transhipping LUGGAGE AND OVERSEAS MAILS Rearrangements of the schedules of the two expresses Wellington were made at Auckland yesterday as a result of the extensive slip> .on tie Main Trunk line south, of le • The 3 p.m. train did not leave, until 9 p.m., and the limited express, which usually departs at 7.15 until 10 P.m. Because of the delajs and the uncertainty as to when slip would he cleared many passengers cancelled their seats. Passengers by the delayed trains included several members of Parhamen , Who were uncertain whether the} would t>e able to reach Wellington in time for the opening of the House a 2.30 p.m. to-day. Among them note LSinker, the Hon W. E. Barnard, and Messrs. W. T. Anderton, W A. Bodkin, C. W. Boswell, 1. K. C. R. Petrie, A. S. Richards and U. W. Schramm. There were also a number of travellers who arrived by the Monterey and Monowai yesterday. Avoiding Long Wait Originally it was hoped that the slip would be cleared at an early hour this morning, and the trains were delayed in order that their arrival at the slip ■would synchronise with its removal, thus saving the passengers a long wait at the scene. Subsequently it was found that the reopening of the line would take longer than had been anticipated. It was then announced that the trains would proceed to To Kuiti only and that a decision with regard to transferring the passengers and mail across the affected section of line would be made at daylight this morning. Special Provision Made A similar arrangement was made in connection with the two WellingtonAuckland expresses, which were to be held at Taumarunui until daybreak. "When the position became known m Auckland yesterday afternoon, it was decided to solve the difficulty partially by despatching a relief train to convey passengers to points between Auckland and To Kuiti. The decision was reached at 2.30 p.m., and smart staff work at the station resulted in tho relief train leaving tho platform at 3.10 p.m. with 'passengers occupying the same seats as had been reserved for them in the ordinary express. Arrival Times Uncertain A fairly large number of people travelled by the relief train, but, on account of cancellations, there were comparatively few on the later expresses. The first train had between 60 and 70 people on board, while there were about 130 on the limited express, nearly half of whom were in sleeping compartments. No indication could be given at Auckland last night a3 to how long it would take to transfer passengers across tho affected section of the line. While it was thought that this could bo done fairly expeditiously, it was anticipated that there would be further delay in moving the baggage and mails, there being considerably more than usual owing to the arrival of the two liners yesterday. Similarly, railway authorities were not in a position to state when passengers by the two expresses which left Wellington for Auckland yesterday would reach the city.