Railway Comfort

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 493, 24 October 1928, Page 9

Railway Comfort

Innovations Popular with All Travellers CHAT WITH MR. D. RODIE Next February a party of 200 Australians w:ll make a personally conducted tour through New Zealand. The whole of the arrangements lor the transport ol the party—including bookings, hotels and car services—will be made b / the Railways Department.. This is * ne evidence of the growing activity ol the railways and of their keenness lor business. Mr. D. Rodie. commercial manager of the railways, who arrived from Wellington this morning, stated that the department now deals with tourist agents abroad, and that there is a constantly growing demand for information regarding the Dominion from other countries. Speaking of the work of the commercial branch of the department. Mr. Rodie said that when the Dominion bowling tournament ends at Wellington on January 3. the Australian visitors who will attend propose to tour New Zealand. He also stated that Lord Clinton, head of tile Umpire Forestry Delegation which has just concluded its tour of New Zealand, expressed his pleasure at the arrangements which had been made for the comfort of the party w'hile travelling. Lord Clinton told Mr. Rodie this morning that the railways of New Zealand compared very favourably with those ofi Australia and other countries. . The night express service in the South Islan i is proving very popular. A recent indication of its value was shown when the Manuka arrived att Bluff on Sunday September 30 with a large number of passengers frem Australia.

On the night of its arrival the party left by the expres for Christchurch, arriving there at 7.30 o’clock on Monday morning, all thoroughly pleased with such a quick service. The department’s new policy of putting more attendants on the more important trains is also being appreciated by the travelling public, said Mr. Rodie. These men are doing their work in a satiefactory manner and he hopes that travellers will take advantage of their being on the train. The removal of the restriction governing the reservation of seats is also proving popular. Passengers can now book seats and for any journey over 25 miles long before the day of travelling. Sleeping berths can also be pencilled in a fortnight ahead of the date of using them. This means that passengers can make sure of a berth and go to the booking office some time later to complete the arrangements. Preliminary investigations are belli; made to see whether it is possible to run excursions for farmers thorn tbe South Island to wish to attend the Hamilton Show. If this can be satisfactorily arranged definite long-service traffic may eventuate.