PORT CHALMERS RAILWAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21215, 22 December 1930, Page 10

PORT CHALMERS RAILWAY.

RUNNING OF SUNDAY TRAINS. A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. —/ Since the,. Sunday train service was recently suspended on' the Dunedin-Port Chalmers railway, the Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr W. G. Love) has been urging the Minister of Railways (Mr W. A. Veitch) to reinstate the service, as the bus service was inadequate. Several communications have passed between the Minister and the Mayor on the subject. The following letter was received from the Minister on Saturday:— ' “ With further reference to your telegram of September 25 in regard to the discontinuance of the Dnnedin-Port Chalmers Sunday trains, I desire to say that the Dunedin-Port Chalmers service has been a losing proposition for several years, and in recent months the loss was increasing. With the present state of finance it became necessary to adopt suitable. measures to reduce expenditure to a minimum. The train service came under review, and as we had buses' that could be operated at a much lower cost than the trains and with which an equally good passenger service could be provided there was no option but to adopt the more economical method. Our buses are of a good type, and have competent drivers in charge. Very great care is taken in the selection of drivers, and I think there are no real grounds lor anxiety in regard to the safety and efficiency of the bus service. The lower cost of the operation permits, of us running a much more frequent time table than was possible with the trains, and there is a further advantage of extra intermediate stops bringing the service in closer touch with residential areas. With regard to the Portohello ferry service, it has now been arranged to issue on Sundays a combined bus and ferry steamer concession ticket, which, with the suitable road motor connections, should be of assistance in maintaining the Ferry Company’s traffic. The stability of the bus service is, of course, dependent on the measure of support afforded it. Any substantial increase in the Sunday traffic may necessitate an augmentation of the bus fleet or possibly a reversion to the train service. While I appreciate. the concern of yourself and your council for the maintenance of Sunday communication between the port and the city, I regret that present necessity for economy will not permit continuance of a service that is a constant drain on our resources.