STRATFORD RAILWAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1933, Page 13

STRATFORD RAILWAY

OPENING DATE

SERVICE TO AUCKLAND

An endeavour is being made to.cominenee the railway service on the new Stratford line on April 1, but the magnitude of the work in connection with v the completion of the line may render it necessary to postpone the opening date. '..-."'.. '".".■. Twenty members of the -New. Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, including the Commissioner of Lands and .the; district Tailway traffic managers" of Wanganui and Ohakune, visited Ohura on.Monday evening. to..discuss the service on the new.line.. The engineer of the Public Works Mr. Dauber, said that- • owing 7to the numerous tunnels, the railway was known as' "the 'Stratford tinderground." . It was emphasised- by brie speaker that the coal -resources at Tarigarakau and at.other points"on the l__ne would in future make "the" Ohiira district richer than the cow. had made the Waikato. The wealth.from this source had scarcely been' touched, he said. A strong plea, for patronage for the railway was made by Mr. .V. .R. Stanley, the railway, business agent at Wanganui. The new policy of the TDepartmerit, he said,was ■ to"' complete feeder Toads. The service provided would depend on the patronage given. A tentative service not yet completed by the Department .was outlined/by Mr. H. Couch, traffic manager at'Wanganui, who spoke' of an express with a'"sleeper" between Auckland and New Plymouth, both- ways three Says a week, and a passenger coach daily on the goods train, connection with the Main Trunk to be made at Taumaruniii.