NORTH LINE RAILWAY SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23350, 16 November 1937, Page 12

NORTH LINE RAILWAY SERVICES

• TO THE EDITOR Sir, —Through your columns I would like to draw the attention of the railways traffic manager to what seems a rather peculiar arrangement of the Dunedin-Oamaru-Palmerston trains. I am quite sure that a number of weekenders would leave town on Friday evenings if the train service were suitable. The fact that this service is popular is evidenced by the number of passengers who travelled on the 5.40 p.m. train last year. Incidentally, why not 6 p.m.?. But how much longer are we to wait for this train to observe summer running? At the present time we have a train leaving Dunedin for Oamaru at 3.45 p.m. Then we have a train for Palmerston at 4.35 p.m., less than an hour later—which seems strange. I know all this talk about farmers “must get home before dark, etc.,” but apparently they make Friday a shopping holiday, and I do not think it unreasonable for them to run late on one day in the week. The country people themselves may appreciate the desired change which I hope to see the Railways Department put into effect without further delay. Surely the department’s own foresight should have been sufficient to make this letter unnecessary. I am quite aware that a bus service leaves for Palmerston late at night, but this is of no use to Mihiwaka, Purakanui, The Cliffs, and Michie’s Crossing weekenders.—l am. etc.. Week-ender. [The district traffic manager informs us that the customary alteration to the 4.42 p.m. Dunedin-Palmerston train so that it will depart from Dunedin at 5.40 p.m. to meet summer conditions has been arranged to operate from Monday, December 6. The date of alteration has, for many years, been fixed to commence from the first Monday in December, which is recognised by seaside patrons as the commencement of the summer season. The weather conditions experienced during the past few weeks have been exceptional, but if it is the desire of the majority of regular patrons, the later running of the train in question could be brought into operation at an earlier date m future years. This train cannot be timed to leave at 6.0 p.m., as suggested as this would cause serious delay to incoming trains to Dunedin.—Ed. 0.D.T.l