EXTRA TRAINS TO RUN

Chronicle (Levin), 5 November 1946, Page 7

EXTRA TRAINS TO RUN

-Press Association

Improved Coal Stocks

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Nov. 4. Improved coal stocks in the North Island made it possible to plan better travel Jfacilities for the fortlicoming holiday season, stated the Minister of Itailways (Mr. Semple) today. The Minister announced an extension of present express timetabies, and aiso the running of special trains during the peak of the holiday season. He also said that from November 11 up to and ineluding January 12 reservations would be accepted up to one calendar month ahead of the travel date. As a first stcp, said Mr. Semple, it is proposed to resume, as from December 1, tlie time-table which was iu operation earlier in tlie year, and ■vvliich made provision for tlie principal expresses in the North Island (Main Trunk excepted) to ruu on tliree days a week instead of on two as at present, and for the runniiig of a number of subsidiary long-distance passenger trains. In this programme provision is aiso made for the Limited expresses to run between Wellington and Auckland on Sundays, Mondays and Fridays, for the resumption of Sunday trains in the Hutt Valley, ineluding running to Naenae, and for an increased Sunday service in tlie Wellington-Paekakariki aiea. The train services through out New Zealand would be augmented by tlie running of additional expresses. On the North Island Main Trunk linc the Limited express is to run daily (Saturdays excepted) as from Friday December 13, until Monday, Januar\ 13, reverting tliereafter to three days a week. Sleeping accommodation will be provided on the Limited on Sundays, Mondays and Fridays onlv. Six trains each way between Auckland and Wellington are planned toi Eriday, December 2.0, three for Saturday, December 21, and Sunday, December 22, and four for Tuesday, December 24. The expresses on the otlier principal North Island routes, Auckland-Opua Auekland-Rotorua, Auckland-Taneatua Wellington - New Plymouth, and Wellington-Napier-Gisborne will run daily from December 16 to January 11. with additional relief trains on selected days for holiday peak traffic. The Auekland-New Plymouth expresses will also make additional trips on selecteil days. Booking of Seats To enable intending passengers to make their accommodation arrangements as early as possible, it has been deeided to accept as from November 11 applications for reserration of seats on the express and relief trains and for sleeping berths when applicable, up to one calendar month ahead of travel date. The present arrangement whereby two davs' grace is allowed passengers applying at stations otlier than the seatallotting station will continuc. The effect of the arrangement is that "a1 phss6ng!6r'ima,y apply, sav, at Welling ton for seat from Wellington to Auckland one calendar month ahead of travel date, but application for a reservatioh for a similar journey may .be fnade- at.a country statio'ri one month. and. two days ahead of travel date, although tlie latter application will not reccive priority over:.tlie Wellington application when seats iire being allottetl. This extension ofAtime to a month will apply to all travel up to and ineluding January 12. For journeys to be made on January 13, and tliereafter, the reserving period will be reduccd to that at present in force, 'one week ahead for applications made at seat-allotting stations and niiie days ahead for appTrcations made at non-allotting stations. In otlier words. the earliest application for a seat for travel on January 13 Ayill be rcccivable at allotting stations on January 6 and at non-allotting slations on January 4.