NELSON, BLENHEIM AND CHRISTCHURCH TO BE CONNECTED VIA EAST COAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18011, 23 November 1926, Page 13

NELSON, BLENHEIM AND CHRISTCHURCH TO BE CONNECTED VIA EAST COAST.

SIX MONTHS RAIL AND MOTOR TRIAL PLANNED. Per Press' Association. WELLINGTON, November 22. After making a thorough investigation of traffic conditions on the northern routes of the South Island the Railway Department, has decided to make a six months’ trial of a combined rail and motor service connecting up Nelson, Blenheim and Christchurch via the East Coast. Similarly train and motor arc to co-operate for the convenience of travellers from Nelson to Greymouth. Through connections will also be possible with the North Island by means of the ferry services between Wellington and Picton and Wellington and Nelson respectively. . These facilities will commence on December 6. The genesis of the scheme is found in the desire of the Railway Department, effectively to meet road competition. It is felt that on the run between Christchurch and Parnassus, a distance of S 5 miles, this can be accomplished under a plan by which road competition will cease ■ and. the motor companies will provide motqr connection-- between Parnassus, Blenheim and Nelson. The arrangement will enable Wellington passengers tQ leave Wellington .at 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday connecting at Picton with a train for Blenheim. After a night spent in Blenheim the passengers for Christchurch will join the motor service, which leaves Blenheim at 7.45 a.m., will lunch at Kaikoura, and arrive at Parnassus at 1.45 p.m., thence proceeding by train

to Christchurch, arriving there at 5.14 p.m. This service naturally will not be in favour >vith those who desire to save time by night travelling by ferry, connection to and frpm Lyttelton, but it will probably prove a convenience for commercial travellers and others who desire to take things in their stride, while. no doubt it will be decidedly attractive for others who desire to reduce the sea voyage as much as possible and enjoy the pleasure of travelling by day through the scenic beauties of the East Coast on the route between Blenheim and Christchurch. For those travelling northward an express train will leave Christchurch at 7,55 a.m. daily, arriving at Parnassus three hours later. Here the motor for Blenheim will be | joined. Lunch , will be taken at Kai- J koura about 1 o’clock and arrival at I Blenheim is timed for. 5 p.m. Next ! day the journey from Blenheim for! Wellington will be resumed by train at I 12.55 p.m. and the Picton steamer will • make port at about 5.30 p.m. I Special arrangements have been * made with motor firms at present operating on the road between Blenheim and Christchurch by which they Will cease to run between Christchurch and Parnassus and they will co-operate with the department in working the combined rail and motor Service. The . connection with Nelson will be particularly good, as passengers leaving Christchurch by the 7.55 am. express will reach Nelson by 0 p.m. the same night by service cars leaving Blenheim at 5.30 p.m, half an hour after arrival there from Christchurch. Nelson passengers wishing to travet t’6 Christchurch will leave by car at 4 a.m. and reach Christchurch by train at 5.14 p.m. the same evening. At present Nelson passengers for Christchurch who travel by sea via Wellington have to spend two nights and a day on the journey. Passengers for the West Coast will find the new service from Nelson equally attractive. The steamer from Wellington will be met at Nelson port by a train which will leave the wharf immediatelj r the steamer arrives and will run a fast passeng<# service with a limited number of stops at Glenhope. •

Through passengers will be transferred to motor services connecting up with the train at Inangahua Junction for Greymouth, passengers for Westport proceeding from Inangahua by car.