RAILWAY METHODS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1413, 13 April 1912, Page 6

RAILWAY METHODS.

Sir,—Tt is to be hoped that the new Minister for Uailways will tfive some attention lo tho lSlenhciin-I'icton service, and endeavour to brin;? about'a better .condition of working than at present exists on arrival "f th« train from Blenheim, which connccls with fhe WellinKton steamers. On Thursday the I'ateemi was timed to leave l'ieton at. li p.m., and was duo at Wellington at It! li.in., thus allowing passengers ample time 10 eatch suburban trains- and trains. Tim boat wa- time-tabled to leave Wellinslon ai?fiin for Nelson at II p.m. On draftini; this timo-tnlilo the Union Company evidently did not consider the jio-as-you-methods which are allowed In exist in connection with the above-mentioned railwav service. Oil this occasion the train irns due (it I'icton nt 5.45 p.m. At ICoromiio tho passengers were lwld us for.

twenty minute to allow a freight, tram to pass! Piuton nas reached at 0.10 anil then it was further demonstrated to tlio Wellington, passengers how grossly mismanaged the service is. The staiion is not movo than a stone's throw away from the vessel, and yet it was 6.47—i.e., thirtyseven minutes after the train arrived— when tho luggage van was placed alongside to tranship tho luggage. The boat:, which had arrived at 4 p.m., cast oil at (i.st) p.m. for Wellington, the detention being caused entirely by tho railway officials, as no cargo was taken on board on this occasion. In view i.f the fact: that tho train essentially serves the Wellington boats, the detention which is so often the cause of much inconvenience and annoyance, as in this case, could bo avoided it" "tho luggage van wero placed next to tho engine; then on arrival at Piclon the van could be put on the wharf immediately, without having to await tho conclusion of the shunting operations. On Thursday tho engine in tho course of shunting passed the crossing no fewer than sixteen times before the van was dealt with! The result of this continuous mismanagement was that on Thursday tho passengers concerned wero on arrival in Wellington too late for tho suburban trains, while the only trams available ran to Newtown. Not only wero paw-engers to Wellington bound for suburbs put. to the unnece.ssary expense of staying a night in town, or as in my case of having to walk with their luggage some miles,' but those who left by the boat for Nelson were also caused much inconvenience by reason of tho boat leaving at a much later hour. Trusting tho matter will receive the Railway Department's immediate) attention,— I am, etc., : VINCENT COX. April 5.