RAILWAY TIME TABLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20707, 3 May 1929, Page 10

RAILWAY TIME TABLE.

RE-ARRANGEMENT OF SERVICES SCHEDULE TIMES TO BE OBSERVED. The Minister of Railways (Mr W. B. Taverner) made the announcement yesterday that important alterations are shortly to be made in the railway time table. “ The inability of expresses to run regularly to schedule in recent mouths has called for closer examination into the causes, and certain alterations have now been decided upon which should produce a decided improvement in fhe punctuality of trains,” said the Minister. The changes about to be introduced are necessary in order to avoid Inconvenience in business circles through uncertainty as to probable arrival time of main arterial services. Although in some cases improvement could only he effected by easing the. throughout time' somewhat, the arriving times are in general more suitable. The changes will also have the effect of producing a more practicable time table. Besides inconvenience fo through travellers and their business connections, the delays to mail and expreas trains have had a serious adverse effect upon other trains over a wide area. Re-scheduling on a better time table and to avoid clashing with important suburban trains will, it is hoped, react healthily over the whole service.”

THE MAIN LINE EXPRESSES. “ The following are among the principal time -table changes:—The 8.50 a.m. ehristchurch-Invercargill express will be accelerated to leave Christchurch at 8.35 a.m., arriving at and departing from Dunedin five minutes earlier than at present, and arriving in ,■ Invercargill at 9.5 p.m. (two minutes later than present schedule). This timing allows for a stop at Addington t<i pick up passengers from the north line. The earlier start from Christchurch can be effected quite conveniently after connection has been made at Lyttelton with the ferry from Wellington, and earlier scheduling at Dunedin will avoid the present clash with the Duncdiu-Mosgiel suburban traffic. The 8.50 a.m. Christchurch-Dunedin Monday mail will leave Christchurch at 8.35 a.m., and arrive in Dunedin at 6.5 p.m., instead of 5.18 p.m., as at present. The 7 a.m. Invercargill-Ohristchurch express will leave Invercargill as at present, but will arrive in Christchurch eight minutes later than the existing schedule provides for, and will arrive at Lyttelton five minutes later than at present. The .12.25 p.m. Christchurch-Dunedin express will be timed to arrive in Dunedin four minutes later than at present. "A number of changes have been

arranged for local trains operating on the ’ main line. Most of these changes are related in some way to the re-scheduling that has been arranged for expresses. CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT. “The train which formerly left Christchurch for Ashburton at 7.25 a.m., arriving at Ashburton at 10.2 a.m.,- will, now leave Christchurch at 7.10 a.m. and arrive at Ashburton at 9.47 a.m. This train will be a feeder service for the south-bound express. Its earlier arrival at Ashburton will also be more convenient for scholars who travel by it. Provision is 'also being made to enable workers who commence work at Islington at 8 a.m. to be conveyed by this service. The train which formerly left Christchurch for Islington at 7.10 a.m. will now leave Christchurch at 7.36 aim. and arrive as Islington at 7.52 a.m. -During the .last three years an extended trial has been made, with four purely passenger ■ trains between Ashburton and Timaru. The additional business ’ anticipated failed to materialise, ■ and there : is/ no warrant for continuing these as passenger : trains, and they have therefore been put back on a mixed train basis, but on an.improved schedule to that originally in operation. To have continued them as at present would have been economically unsound. The changes made in these : trains are as follows “The 7.45 a.m - . Ashburton-Timaru train will leave Ashburton at 7.20 a.m., arriving at Timaru as at present. The 8.4 a.m. ,Timaru-Ashburton train will now leave Tiinaru at' 7.35 a.m., and arrive at Ashburton -at ,10.6 a,.m. The present arrival times of these, morning trains at Timaru and Ashburton have been retained for convenience of scholars. The Ashburton-Timaru 4.31 p.m. train wlll be due to arrive at Timaru.at 6.55 p.m. The Timaru-Ashburton 4.48 p.m. will leave Timaru .eight minutes later, and arrive at Ashburton at 7.21 p.m. DUNEDIN DISTRICT.

“The present 4.34 p.m. Dunedin-Pal-merston train will leave Dunedin in future at 4.25 p.m. This change is made in order to adjust crossing with down expresses. This is not a workers’ train, and- ho' inconvenience is anticipated; from-the nine minutes’ earlier departure. On the winter timing the 8.62 a.m. Dunedin-Oamaru mixed train will arrive at Oainaru at 2.13 p.m. The additional time allowed is in'accordance with the capacity of the train to make the journey and arrive to time. The present 3.4 p.m. Dunedin-Oamaru train will leave Dunedin at 3 p.m., and is allowed' 10 minutes longer on the journey to adjust crossings and ease running. CENTRAL OTAGO.

“-Arrangements have been made for the 7.40 a.m. Cromwell-Dunedin train to-leaye Cromwell at .7.30 a.m., and arrive at : Wingatui at 4.41 p.m., six minutes earlier than at present. This will ease the running through the Central, and raake_ comfortable connection with the express from Christchurch. It will also avoid delay to the 5.15 p.m. Mosgiel-Dunedin workers’ train. On the winter running the Cromwell-Dun-edin 9.7 a.m. train will leave Cromwell at : ;0-a.m. In addition to these, a considerable number of slight intermediate easements and adjustments of an 'ordinary nature have been _ made to mixed, and goods trains, all with the purpose of arranging better crossings and securing, improved running. ■ THE NORTH ISLAND. ‘‘Arrangements are also in hand, for improving the train services in the North Island, and these are largely dependent upon improvements to certain crossing facilities now under construction, together with completion of duplication on the busy section of north of Frankton Junction to Horotiu. Improvements on the Rotorua and Tauranga .lines have also been decided on, details of which will he available shortly. .REASONS FOR CHANGE. “In conclusion,” said Mr Taverner, " both the general manager and myself are impressed with the desirability of providing train services, which will be dependable in their timing and economically warranted by the traffic available. On these points we think the changes outlined above will give satisfaction, and I would ask the public to view the new. time-table in this light, that is, as a rearrangement of times and services based on experience of the operating

capacity of the lines to produce punctuality in running and adequacy of service, It is not yet possible to state the precise date on which the change will he made, but the arrangements are being pushed on in order to bring them into operation as soon as practicable. It is expected that th’is will be done within the next few weeks.”