SUBURBAN TRAINS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 70, 19 September 1930, Page 7

SUBURBAN TRAINS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—From posters displayed in the Hutt suburban trains, I notice that the RailwayDepartment is extending its mid-week excursion fares so that they are now available for use all day on Wednesdays. JLhis is certainly a step in the right' direction, against motor competition, though a belafed one, but I trust the forerunner or more, and the officials concerned might, justly be congratulated for their initiative in extending the concession. I submit tbat had this policy of cheapening, instead of the short-sighted one of increasing, fares been applied to the Sunday sev--vices, the results would be more satisfactory both to the Department and to the travelling public, and there would be no hardships such as the Upper Hutt people are experiencing. But along with cheaper fares as an inducement to use the railway services, I would suggest the provision of better carriages. Of late there have been several of the new-type carriages running on the Hutt services. The improvements they embody are fully appreciated by travellers, and I notice that, despite the fact that some carriages bear the notice "Smoking," they are well patronised by womenfolk, who, apparently, are prepared to tolerate the smoking for the sake of more comfortable travelling. If the General Manager ot Railways were to see for himself the attraction these carriages have, I do not doubt that he would arrange that at least all "shopping" trains, which a^ the ones that cater for the more payable traffic and so suffer most from competition, aro composed only of this type of cainage He would find that with cheaper and more comfortable travelling rail traflic would bo greater than when people were expected to'travel in those old-fashioned flat-roofed carriages.—l. am, etc.,, SUBURBAN!!!, ;