RAILWAY TRAVEL

Southland Times, Issue 23768, 16 March 1939, Page 12

RAILWAY TRAVEL

To The Editor Sir,—The Railway Department claims that the safest way to travel is by rail. That claim might be justified if a little more consideration was given to passengers leaving the trains at country stations. I travel frequently by the Sunday night express to Invercargill. _ At the smaller stations where the train stops, it is not unusual to see only the guard’s van at the platform. I observed a glaring case of the inconvenience sometimes caused by this at Woodlands station on February 26. A disabled soldier travelling with the Southland bowlers had to leave the train past the water tank. Had it not been for the kindness of some of the passengers who got off the train to assist him, he might have been carried on to Invercargill. Even then he had to get over signal wires and stand there until the train pulled out; then make his way back to the station which was at least 100 yards away. There were three carriages between the one I refer to and the engine, so those in the front carriages would be in a worse position. I know that these country platforms are not long enough to enable the train to stop alongside, but if the centre of the train stopped at the platform then passengers leaving the train would have the benefit of the station lights. I hope the powers that be see this letter and endeavour to remedy the matter.—Yours, etc., , TT1 _ TRAVELLER. March 13, 1939. [When this letter was referred to the .district traffic manager, Railways Department, Invercargill (Mr A. E. Hargreaves), he made the following comment:— On the date referred to by your correspondent the Dunedin-Invercargill express train consisted of 16 vehicles, the total length being 800 ft. This was in excess of the available platform facilities and while those travelling in the rear cars were not inconvenienced in any way passengers travelling in the front cars would require to alight on the gravelled walk. This is not in darkness, as may possibly be inferred, as the carriage lights provide considerable illumination. The disability at Woodlands applies, of course, on the few occasions when trains are of inordinate length. The platform facilities are considered to be reasonably sufficient to deal with the ordinary tiaffic handled over the whole year. It might be added that the principal party concerned in the incident mentioned by your correspondent does not attach the same relative importance to the mat" ter as is suggested. In view of his particular unfortunate disability the man referred to made prior arrangements for assistance when leaving the train; also for his luggage to be carried from the car. This was done and the train was held for a period sufficiently long to permit of the person dealing with the luggage to rejoin the train. I trust the information conveyed will be of service to your correspondent, to whom the department is indebted for affording an opportunity of reviewing the matter.]