FASTER TRAVEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26540, 15 August 1947, Page 4

FASTER TRAVEL

DUNEDIN TO WANAKA NEW TIME TABLE APPROVED SERVICE TO HAWEA Approx al of the speeding up of the Dunedin-Wanaka road service has been received by the Dunedin manager of the Railway Road Services, Mr P. J. O'Neill, and from September 1 something approaching an express service will be operated. At the same time a new service will be provided for residents of the Hawea district. From Monday to Saturday each week a through bus will leave Dunedin at 9 a.m. and arrive at Wanaka at 4.45 p.m. At present this bus leaves the city at 8-30 and arrives at Wanaka at 6 p.m. On the trip from Wanaka to Dunedin the bus will now leave each day except Sunday at 7.45 a.m. and reach the city at 3.15 p.m. Under the existing time table the bus leaves Wanaka at 7.15 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and reaches Dunedin at 3.45 p.m., and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday it leaves at 8.45 and gets to Dunedin at 5.30. This means that with the new service practically an hour will be clipped off the run and there will be no unnecessary stops on the long run. . @- Residents of the Hawea district are also to have a greatly improved service. A bus is to leave Wanaka at 7.15 a.m. and travel via Hawea to Cromwell, where it will arrive at 9 a.m The return journey will be commenced at 4 p.m. and the bus will reach Wanaka at 6.15, after travelling through Hawea. This bus will not leave Cromwell until after the arrival of the train and it will run every day except Sunday. Commenting on the new service, Mr O'Neill said it had been recognised for some time that an improvement was necessary on thp run between Dunedin and Wanaka. The new time table would ensure that travellers to and from Central Otago could cover the distance in reasonable time. It would mean, too, that they would not waste time at places en route, such as waiting for the train at Cromwell. Those leaving Dunedin would no doubt appreciate the later time of departure, for it would enable them to have plenty of time fgr breakfast before setting out on their journey. “ The early arrival in Dunedin should make it possible for country residents to do any urgent business in the city and if desired return the next morning,” Mr O'Neill added. “ These improvements are part of the general policy to speed up the Central Otago services,” he said. “As more buses and service cars become available there will be still further improvements in the transport service to and from Central Otago towns.” .