PUBLIC OPINION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, 10 April 1926, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

“THE MAN WHO DOES” AND THE TRAINS THAT DON’T (To the Editor, “N.Z. Time*.”) Sir,—lt is an accepted fact that if an extra train is at any time placed oh the everyday go-as-you-please system of our railways the service immediately becomes disorganised. Trains run at anv old time, there is a shortage of rolling stock where it is most required, and officialdom runs about in a distracted manner, wondering how to cope with the unusual demands made on the service at holiday periods. However, for downright muddling h think the train arrangements for the Feilding races on Saturday last take the cake—two cakes as a matter of fact. I have beside me a comprehensive little book of “Train Arrangements for Easter” for North Island main line and branches. It is issued by the Railway Jlepa'rtment, and printed by the Government Printer—therefore I should qny that it is an official time-table. I am attaching hereto a copy of the book, and would respectfully ask you to refer to page 55 thereof, and note the train service for the Feilding races. You wil l observe that the only train mentioned is one that departs from Wellington at 8.20 a.m., and perhaps it will strike you as peculiar that it is timed to arrive at Palmerston North at 9.53 a.m., thus completing the journey in 83 minutes. Thus it would appear to the Jay mind, but it evidently refers to an earlier train leaving Paekakariki at 6.16. .

It is, however, with the 8.20 a.m. train from Wellington that I am dealing. I took passage for self and wife by it for Feildmg races. The train ran true to time, reaching Palmerston North at noon punctually. You will note, sir, that according to the “train arrangements” a special train was scheduled to connect up for Feilding, at 12.10 p.m. That' “special,”'consisting of two small carriages and a couple of horse boxes, drawn by an engine evidently borrowed for the occasion from some sawmill up Taihape way. landed its passengers at Feilding at 1 o’clock, just after the third race (the Manchester Handicap); had been run. Just think of it: a race special reaching its destination just in time for one to see the fourth race, after a tiring journey of nearly six hours. What does the “Man Who Does” think of that? If this “speeding up” is allowed to continue a teririble accident will occur some ■ day when the train will take it into its head to run back to Wellington on its own from Johnsonville. But the worst has to come. You will please note the foot of page 55 le is stated that, a train would leave Feilding for Palmerston at 5.10 p.nm, connecting with a train leaving that place ax 5.55 p.m. It connected right enough, and we left for Wellington at 6 o’clock, which we reached at 11.35. -Ye gods Bnd swordfishes 1 Five hours and a half to come from Palmerston,, a distance of 87 miles. Another instance of “economical” worklhg was the fact that no less than five different guards punctured our tickets, two clips each, and when the last one called on us as we neared home he gathered up the holes; there were no tickets left. I hope, sir, you will substantiate these facts, and pass stringent comment on the ever-prevalent railway muddle at liolidav time.—l am, etc., ' “NEVER MORE.” The above has been referred to the railway officials, who state that the train due to leave' Palmerston aftey midday was obviously not intended to land its passengers at Feilding in time for the earlier races. The 8.20 a.m. train from Wellington is shown in/ the booklet as being due at Palmerston at noon, not 9.53 a.m. as stated by “Never More.” The information will, however, he more clearly set out in the booklet in future. On the return journey the train was unduly delayed en route, and the loss of time thus incurred caused the train at a later stage to be side-tracked fo allow the Aucklafld-Welljhgton “Limited" express to take precedence. The department is purusing the matter further with a view to improving the train' arrangements in future.