SUBURBAN TRAINS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3993, 23 September 1930, Page 35

SUBURBAN TRAINS.

DISCONTINUANCE ANNOUNCED.

ONLY TWO SERVICES RETAINED. WELLINGTON, September 19. An announcement that all Sunday suburban services except those between Christchurch and Lyttelton and Invercargill and Bluff would be eliminated as from Sunday, September 28, was made by the Minister of Railways (Mr W. A. Veitch) to-day. By way of recapitulation the Minister stated that when the whole of the train services were recently reviewed it was found that the Sunday suburban services were' involving the department in a loss. It was at first proposed to eliminate those services at once in the interests of economy. In order, however, to endeavour to preserve ’ the services to the people of the districts affected, it was decided to give them ■ a trial at ordinary fares in order to see whether the loss could be eliminated.

“ The experience since the change was made shows that this does not afford a solution of the difficulty,” said the Minis-' ter. “As the department is not in a financial position to continue to bear the loss involved in providing these services it has now been decided to eliminate all Sunday suburban services except those on the port lines, namely, between Christchurch and Lyttelton and Invercargill and Bluff. The fares which operated on those services previously to the commencement of the trial recently made will be reverted to. The changes will come into operation on Sunday, September 28.”