WAIRARAPA MAIL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 58, 6 September 1926, Page 10

WAIRARAPA MAIL

RUNNING OF THE DOWN EXPRESS

Some time ago the Pahiatua Chamber of Commerce made recommendations to tho Railway Department to alter the time-table of the Wairarapa express, so that it would arrive in Wellington an hour or so earlier than it does now. Mr. W. A. Marshall, business agent of ithe commercial branch of the Department, met about fifteen local body representatives and business people at Pahiatua recently to discuss suggested alterations as drawn up by the Railway Department. At present the down express leaves Woodville at 1.30 p.m.,- and arrives in Wellington at 6.53. This was considered too late, as it was impossible to get a meal at that time, or in the case of those going South to have dinner before joining the boat. It would be a great improvement if the trains got to Wellington about 5.40. Under the revised time-table, said the railway representative, tho express would leave Palmerston North at 11.8 a.m., Woodvitte at 12.10 p.m., Pahiatua at 12.34 p.m., and arrive at Wellington at 5.44 p.m. No alteration would be made with regard to the up train. However, the morning train leaving Thorndon at 9.35 a.m. for Napier via Manawatu, which at present connected with the down Wairarapa express, could not connect under the proposed new arrangement. It was a question of whether the people of Pahiatua would be agreeable to forego this daily connection between Manawatu and Wairarapa. After remarks had been made for and against the proposed alterations a motion was carried referring the matter back to the executive of the Chamber of Commerce to make a recommendation as to whether it favoured the alteration or not, such recommendation to be forwarded straight to the Department. In moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Marshall for his attendance, appreciation was expressed of tho Department's action in improving the second-class accommodation on the Wairarapa service.