NEW BUS SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26531, 5 August 1947, Page 4

NEW BUS SERVICES

WAKARI AND KAIKORAI ROUTES SATISFACTORY WORKING Unfamiliarity with the new facilities available on the Kaikorai and Wakari routes yesterday prevented passengers from taking full advantage of the service, said the engineer-manager of the Transport Department, Mr L. C. Greig, in a statement to the .Daily Times last night. This position could be expected to correct itself, he added, as passengers became used to the new system. Mr'Greig said that the main features of the new service. were a short-distance'main-line route between the Octagon and Nairn street, a long-dis-tance main-line route between the Octagon and Halfway Bush and a continuous feeder service between Nairn street and Halfway Bush. Journeys between the city and y/akari could not be made direct, but because of the liberal feeder service, connections to the main-line route could be' made at Halfway Bush and Nairn street ’ and Wakari residents had a wide choice of service. Buses bearing the Wakari destination sign ran to Halfway Bush and were suitable for residents near that part and also for those requiring to use the feeder service. . ■ “ The new services have been favourably commented on, and, although there have been anxious moments for the operating staffs when buses became / delayed at the busy periods, it was hoticeable that queues never became long, and that overcrowding of the buses was absent,” said Mr Greig. “ Delays of .10 minutes were experienced on the Halfway Bush route due to passengers and staffs feeling their way with new time tables, routes, and fares, but this is only to be expected in the first few. days of an innovation. Close and continuous observations are being kept on all aspects of the new services, to ensure the scheme being a complete success.” He added that conductors would be stationed at heavy loading points during the peak hours of travel.