THE COST OF RAILWAY TRAVELLING.

Evening Star, Issue 3960, 3 November 1875, Page 3

THE COST OF RAILWAY TRAVELLING.

In a report to the Engineer-in-Chief, Mr Passmore, the superintending engineer of constructed railways, says, in reference to all the lines yet opened, that he has received letters occasionally relative to the reduction in passenger fares and goods rates?, but thinks if the matter is inquired into it will be found that tho faro and rates are remarkably low, especially when the nature of the country through which most of the lines pass, and the cost of labor arc taken iuto con-ideration. • He s»ys that such lines as are free from heavy gradients will bear favorable comparison with those of English railways, where labor and all stores are so much cheaper, and gives the following examples : First. Second. s. d. s. d. Carmarthen to Abei yctwy th, miles -fares ... ' ... 12 5 8 3 New Zo.-.hind faies forcoires-•ji-mding distance 11 11 7 3 Abeiystwyih to Pencader, -11 hj miles—tares ' 0 0 G 3 New Zealand fares 0 0 o ti Pcicrbi.roucdi to .Mania (Groat Easte-rn) 20 mile.s-fares ... 4 2 3 4 Ne-.v Z.'ab'.nd fares 4 r> 1> [) i.ond n to j'.oston ( : l.eat Ne •/ '/■ -abind f.-ires 22, 7 ]:> 8 (J.antluni to Pr-stoit (Cie.it Norti.e:ii). 32 mik:' —f;:ie-'... >'< 0 4 G '..Te ' Zed r d f::ve; 0 11. 4 :} I irudoil to i.V1,...L-iil.-y (i'^iii-luii and North 'Western), 40j' miles ■-fares S 0 G 3 New Zealand fates 10 0 0 0 Lon lon to Rugby (London and North-Western), o'2.i ; miles fares 15 G 11 fi New Zealand fares 17 7 10 8 Brecon to Swansea, 10 miles—'■ires 8 0 GO New Zealand fares 8 7 5 3 Br. con to Merthyr, 24 miles— Jares 5 o 3 G New Zealand far-s 5 3 3 3 Waterfoi'd to Kilkenny Junciion (Ireland), 31 miles—f'>rt'S G 4 4 0 New Zealand fares ... GO 4 2 Now the cost of la or is from 75 to 100 per cent, more than in I'mlnid ; and coal, a very important item, in no casa at Home more than 15s a ton, varicg iu the Colonies from L2 15j to L 3 4s per ton. Idr Passmore says th it after the lino has been work ng suiiiciently inng to euab'o tru-.tworthy perienjc to be formed tho question of f.-.rcs will bo taken into consideration, with a view to reductions, if it should "no co.i-idered advisable ; bat ho adds that he bo'.ieves there arc no railways where such facilities are given to school children, who can now travel on any of the lines for any distance for L 3 p-.-r annum, asd th.it the season tickets arc lower than on many of tho h'ng'ish lines.