SIX-COACH TRAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20875, 29 August 1942, Page 5

SIX-COACH TRAIN

PASSENGER TRAFFIC GISBORNF~PROSPECTS NO CEREMONY LIKELY Although there is no official statement regarding the composition of the passenger trains promised for the Gisborne-Napier ljne from September 7, it is understood that substantial provision is being made for passengers. So far as can be gathered, four o' the coaches will be for passengers and the usual guard’s van, together with a Z wagon, which is to be attached for the purpose of taking the mails, luggage and perishable freight, to bring the total up to six coaches. Being solely a passenger train, no goods wagons will be attached. The coaches reserved for passengers are expected to be of a comfortable type, one for first-class passengers and .the other .three, or at least the greater part of them, for the holders of second-class tickets. Thus, it is expected that there will be ample provision for passengers normally offering between Gisborne and Wairoa, though the addition ol cars may be necessary a.t the latter station, while if an exceptional number of travellers is expected from Gisborne provision may be made for them. Monday week is the date set down for the departure of the first passenger train from Gisborne, and the coaches that will make it up are expected to arrive at Gisborne towards the end of next week. Informal Farewell When the first passenger train steams out of the Gisborne station at 10.5 a.m. on Monday, September 7, there is little doubt that it will be fare welled by an informal but none the less enthusiastic gathering. So far as is known no official function has been arranged and that, in any case, the official ceremony is usually deferred until the formal handing over of the line from the Public Works Department to the Railways Department. The present night goods service and the modified passenger service promised from Monday week are being run while the line is still in the hands of the Public Works Department, who still have some months of finishing off work to do, and until that is done the line will hot formally come into the possession of the Railways Department. It is understood that endeavours are being made to have an official ceremony in keeping, as far as war conditions will permit, with the importance of the occasion to an important district which has been waiting foi the coming of the railway for many years. However, there will be time yet to consider such arrangements, and it is hoped that by then the modified service of one train a day each day will have been extended to something more like the eventual running. Restriction on Travel Even if the train goes out on the morning of September 7 without a fanfare of trumpets, either vocally or speaking, there will be. without doubt, many more people on the station than the friends and relatives of the departing passengers. The restriction on travel to a maximum of 100 miles without a permit will reduce the number of passengers making use of the daily service. for not everyone who applies for a permit is Issued with one. A permit must be secured by every one travelling for more than 100 miles on either private or official business, and there are few exceptions to this rule, members of the armed forces coming within the exception. The permits are issued on the merits of each case, each of which is examined closely, and for that reason early application is desirable.