RAILWAY ENTERPRISE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19433, 20 October 1925, Page 6

RAILWAY ENTERPRISE

THROUGH EXPRESS GOODS SERVICES TO COMMENCE ON NOVEMBER 16. A BOON TO MERCHANTS AND PUBLIC. (Special to “Chronicle.”) WELLINGTON, Oct. IP. The inauguration of new through express goods services on November 16 i next wiil mark the first step towards | progressive development of the rail- ! way policy of the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates), who in his Railway Statement for 1925 indicated that one objective would be a superior standard of service, adequate to public demand. In his address at the Town Hall on Thursday night, Mr. Coates gave a i general outline of the new through goods services which it was proposed to institute in furtherance of his policy and detailed particulars, which are now available, indicate that the new trains are likelv to be of great benefit to those who do business with the Railway Department and to the public generally, besides building up traffic for railways through more ample provision for prompt transit of commodities, particularly perishable and live stock classes, between main centres. The express goods service will commence running on November 16 next in the North Island. A new through goods train has been provided to make connection from Wellington to Auckland. This train will leave Wellington at 7.40 p.m., pass Palmerston at 1.45 a.in. Marton at 3.30 a.m., Ohakuno at 10.40 a.m.. and arrive at Frankton Junction at 11.15 p.m. whence it will proceed to Auckland, arriving there at 5.45 a.m. on the following day. It will be seen that only one working day will be occupied on the run from Wellington to Auckland, the balance of the travelling being done during night hours. This train will correspond with one that has already b.ecn tried out frem Auckland to Wellington, leaving Auckland at 7.50 p.m.. Frankton at 12.50 a.m., Ohakune at 12.35 p.m., Marton 6.30 p.m., and Palmerston at 10.35 p.m., arriving at Wellington at 5.5 the following morning, and taking practically the same time on the journey. This train has been greatly appreciated by traders as a means of ensuring quicker supplv of long distance orders, and has been able to maintain full loading through out the period in which it has been in operation. In railway running, as in other lines of endeavour, nothing succeeds like success, so that in extending the services referred to the railway manage ment may be considered as following a sound policy fully justified by past experience. Under the new service, the Welling ton merchant who consigns goods for Auckland on Monday night will know that they should be available for de livery in Auckland first thing on Wed nesd'ay morning. The same position will apply in regard to goods forwarded from Auckland to Wellington. The best goods service available at present between these two centres is one which leaves Wellington at 8.55 a.m. and reaches Auckland at 9.10 the following night. This service is report od to have been availed of to h largo extent, and since it fills a public want it will be continued under the new time-table. In the South Island there has not been previously an express goods service between Christchurch and cither Dunedin or Invercargill, the fastest service for goods taking 23J hours from Christchurch to Dunedin and over 38 hours from Christchurch to Inverci rgill. The new through goodtrain will occupy only 124 hours from Christchurch to Dunedin, hnd about 23| hours from Christchurch to Inver cargill, a saving of 11 and 15 hour? respectively. To state the position another way, consignments of goods ia’.’l now be conveyed 369 mines from ChrLt'hurch to Invercargill in the same t.me as was previously req lirod to eniiy them 230 miles from Christchurch to Dunedin. Similarly, an express goods train from Invercargill will reach Dunedin in (about 9A hours, and Christchurch in 22 hours, whereas previously it took goods 324 hours tn

travel from Invercargill to Christchurch. Advantages of New Services. An additional advantage of the now trains is to bo found in the rearrangement of times, since by taking advantage of night running only one working du»y will be taken up between Christchurch and Invercargill in either direction, while tho best service under the old timetable took two working days for a complete journey. Another disadvantage the now services are intended to overcome is the possibility of goods being left behind at intermediate stations through mixed trains, by which “through” wagons were conveyed over portion of tho journey, being unable to take all traffic offering.

The gain to consignors of fruit hnd livestock through the better condition in which consignments will be delivered during summer months on account of night transit, and heavy reduction in time occupied over the journey, cannot be overestimated. The authorities feel that inauguration of express goods services wiil bo. heartily appreciated by all producers. The southern coalfields area will hlsn benefit through a more prompt turnover of wagons set aside for coal traffic. while the Railwav Donartment itself stands to gain through the groat er mobility of rolling stork which tho new services make possible.

It is considered that the provision of express goods trains in tho South Island to correspond with those provided for in the North Island will tilso do much to facilitate through booking of goods between the two islands, and give a fillip to tho Department’s interisland through booking system, which, although started only a few months ago, is already operating successfully, and is now regarded in commercial circles as lan essential function to secure the best results in the Dominion’s transportation business.