NEW RAILWAY SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 9

NEW RAILWAY SERVICE

STRATFORD AND OKAHUKURA

THE PROPOSED TIME-TABLE.

OBJECTIONS AT TAUMARUNUI.

The time-table to be put into operation on the Stratford-Main Trunk railway line when it is completed and taken over by the Railway Department which, it is anticipated, with be at the commencement of the new financial year on April 1, will probably be finalised in a day or two. At Ohura on Monday night when touring with the Taranaki Chamber of. Commerce Messrs. H. C. Couch and W. P. Miller, district traffic managers at Wanganui and Ohakune respectively, gave an indication of the proposed time-table. Last Wedftesday they Went to Wellington to meet railway officials and finalise the time-table. The tentative time-table submitted was as follows:—

A train would probably leave Auckland at 7 p.m., connecting with the Limited at Taumarunui and reaching New Plymouth between 6 and 7 a.m. On the reverse journey a train would leave New Plymouth between 6 and 7 p.m., probably crossing the mail train from Wellington at Tariki, and arriving at Auckland at 6.42 a.m. That service would probably run three days a week and the train would contain at least two day carriages and a sleeping car. With regard to other services between Taumarunui and Stratford, it was suggested a train should leave Okahukura about 4 a.m. and Ohura at 6 a.m., arriving at Stratford at 11.8 a.m. Another train would leave Taumarunui at 6 p.m., Okahukura at 6.55 p.m. and Ohura at 8.55 p.m., arriving at Stratford, at 12.50 a.m. Suitable connections would be made at Stratford for Hawera, Wanganui and New. Plymouth. On the return journey a train would leave Stratford at 5.36 a.m. and Ohura at 10.25 a.m., and reach Taumarunui at 12.20 p.m. Another would leave Stratford at 4.15 p.m. and Ohura at 9.10 p.m., reaching Taumarunui at 11.10 p.m. Each train would have passenger carriages attached. On Saturday evenings the train would be delayed to leave Stratford at 7 p.m. and will run as far as Tangarakau. EXTRA GOODS WHERE NEEDED. This time-table will provide the only passenger service to run -on the Tine, though of course extra goods trains will be run to suit the requirements of the traffic. It was made clear that the framers of the time-table realised that the Railway Department was taking over the line just when the traffic was slackening off for the winter, and that they would prefer to inaugurate a service with a time-table that could be augmented later rather than have to reduce it, because the service given would depend on the patronage. The service will cut out the present service that has been running between Stratford and Tahora for some years, and will also eliminate the present Public Works service. The proposed timetable has not been discussed by local bodies interested at the Stratford end of the province, but during the Chamber of Commerce visit to the Ohura and Taumarunui Messrs. C. Couch and Miller invited suggestions.. As far as Stratford is concerned the time-table provides for a train arriving from the east at 11.8 a.m. and leaving again for the east at 4.15 p.m., except on Saturdays, when it will leave at 7 p.m. for Tangarakau. That train will connect at Stratford with the midday train from New Plymouth and the afternoon train for Wanganui. As far as connection with Stratford and the east is concerned the mixed train will leave at 5.36 a.m. and will arrive back at 12.50 a.m. The express train connecting with the Limited for Auckland will leave Stratford at 7.30 p.m., giving passengers from down the line by the Wellington express an opportunity of having their dinner before joining the train. Mr. A. F. Sandford in the course of a discussion ‘at Taumarunui, stated that though the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce had not carefully examined the time-table it appeared as though it would suit Taranaki. OPINION AT EAST END. At the other end of the line, however, the time-table is considered in some directions not to be as suitable as the present one run by the Public Works Department. The trains that department has been running for some years in the Ohura district suited the needs of the High School admirably. The proposed service does not, and. it is expected that unless this transport can be arranged the secondary department of the Ohura school will lose several pupils,, resulting in tire school losing one of its teachers and possibly the closing of the secondary department. At Matiere during the visit of the Chamber of Commerce delegation Messrs. W. K. Williams and G. Dennison, representing the committee appointed by’ a combined meeting of local bodies of the Ohura district, waited on Messrs. Couch and Miller. They made it clear that the proposed service would suit the requirements of the dairy factory but that they would have liked a train to run to suit the requirements of the school. The traffic managers, however, / said there was no possibility of that as in framing their time-table they, had - to .consider connections at each end. The trains would make good connections for produce, and the morning train north would connect with a train that arrived at Auckland at 11 p.m. The returns of the train that was run by the Public Works Department showed that its continuance was not warranted. The traffic managers also made it clear that all the trains would carry mails if arrangements could be made with the Postal Department, A caretaker would be put in charge at Matiere and would be responsible for all goods. A, .train would leave Taumarunui for Ohura a little later on Saturday nights. .. The matter was also discussed by the railway -officials with business people of Taumarunui when the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was .met, and the opinion was expressed that the timetable would not be as suitable as the present one. Mr. Stanton considered that the inward service appeared suitable, but the outward service with trains leaving Taumarunui at 3.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. did not appear to be very suitable for people at Taumarunui who wished to visit, say, Ohura or Whangamomona. Mr. Stanley, business agent, pointed out that the Public Works Department had run a train leaving Taumarunui about 8 a.m., but its patronage did not warrant its continuance. The proposed mixed train would connect with a goods train from Auckland, and it was necessary that it should reach Stratford early. He asked that the Taumarunui business people suggest a time-itable for a train that would suit the district and would prove a payable proposition. It was obvious from the support accorded the 8 a.m. Public Works train that it did not suit the' district. He pointed out that in arranging a timetable the patronage that the train was likely to receive was tffe first consideration. It was absolutely out of the question to run a train for four dr five passengers. He did not - consider it would warrant running express trains

during the day between Taumarunui and New Plymouth. In order to give the trains a chance of paying it was necessary that they should start from the terminal point—Auckland. The Railway Department, if possible, did not want to take away anything the disfJSct already had. Mr. S. Bisharo said' he did not consider the proposed time-table would be suitable to the Taumarunui end of the. district. He ' favoured. the. present services being extended to taken in Ohura, arriving at that township about 9 o’clock, that a train , should arrive at Taumarunui from Ohura about 9 o’clock, and that a train should leave for Ohura on Saturdays nights at 10 o’clock. Mr. Stanley said the patronage accorded to the present trains did not warrant running any more trains than were being provided. It was, however, proposed to definitely delay the evening train to leave Taumarunui at 6 pun. on Saturdays. ■■■ . ' .