Wairarpa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price ld. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1886. Excursion Trains.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1870, 13 August 1886, Page 2

Wairarpa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price ld. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1886. Excursion Trains.

While the Government now aud then

infrequent intervals, afford the Wairarapa settlers the opportunity of taking a trip to Wellington and back by an excursion train, at moderate fares, the arrangements made on such occasions are by no means what they ought to be. In the first place, the railway department never provides a sufficient amount of carriage accommodation in the case of those Excursion Trains. It might be supposed that with the experience which the railway department has gained in connection with these Excursion Trains, they would be able to make a pretty fair guess as to the probable number of passengers likely to be forthcoming on such occasions, and so make adequate provision for their accommodation. But it is not so. The heads of the department appear to be almost destitute of brains, and so fail io profit by the lessons of experience. Thus it neatly always happens, that each new Excursion Train.is insufficient in the number of carriages provided. The second class carriages are rushed by a large number of people, who undergo the journey to the City aud back in a state of crush, " sorooging," and general discomfort all the way. Home people, thinking to avoid the inconveniences, take first class tickets, but the result is very often no better. If they do manage to get a seat in the first class carriages, they experience crushing and crowding all the same. In a good many cases holders of first class tickets cannot find room in the first class carriages, so they are obliged to fall back on the second class, aud get squeezed to the extreme limits of human endurance. This is ‘‘ hard lines ” indeed for those who, having paid first class fate, cannot get the accommodation tor which they [have given their money. We really think it is high time that the railway department should be compelled to keep faith with the public in respect to these Excursion Trains. When an Excursion Train is advertised the department should provide such extra carriages as they thiuk may be wanted, and even have a few more in reserve should the number of would-be passengers exceed the estimate. A little forethought and ordinary business management would set this matter all right. It is true that the possession of those qualities is somewhat rare in the Government Bailway Department, but if its officers cannot manage to do what is required, they might have recourse to assistance from outside. We daresay that if the Government Hallway Department obtained the services of a smart man from the Wel-liagtou-Manawalu Bailway Company, he won pi be able in a week or so to show them how to run an excursion train in such a manner as would prove satisfactory to the public. While dealing with the subject, we wish to point out to the Bailway Department that those Excursion Trains between the Wmrarapa and Wellington are not run nearly often enough. Properly managed, those Excut. ion Trains would pay excellently. The Waira. rapa settlers are always eager aud willing to give a large measure of support to those trains. Whenever, therefere, there is anything of importance going on in Wellington which the Wairarapa settlers wonld liketojsee or take part in, it Would be well to raa a special train between the district and the City. Plenty of people would take advantage of such opportunities by patronising those trains. The winter is passing away aud soon the milder days aud pleasant weather of genial spring will be again experienced. Let us hope, therefore, that the heads of the Bailway Department will awake from their torpor and endeavor fairly aud adequately to meet the reasonable requirements of the Wairarapa settlers in the matter of Special Beturn Excursion Trains to the City.