RAILWAY SERVICES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1919, Page 4

RAILWAY SERVICES.

“STARTLING SEVERITY” OF THE CURTAILMENT. WELLINGTON, June 27. The amended time-table for the reduced railway services for the whole of New Zealand is not yet out. At the present moment i(, is being prepared by the traffic experts of the Department, and they may have finished their task some time after midnight. This cut in services is going to he one of startling severity. An indication of the extent of the reduction may be gauged from the fact that in making the new time-tables, the traffic people are consulting old timc-tnhlus in use twenty-five years -ago. There will be no fast trains at all; there will bo few trains of any kind, and every train will stop at every station. It will take three days to go to

Auckland from Wellington. Owing to the small number of trains to be run, there will he restrictions on travel, and for this reason all travellers who are away from their homes are advised to return before Wednesday, when the new schedule will come into operation. Little is known about what is to be done about cargo traffic on the railways. One of the things known is that timber traffic is to be cut out. The effect of this restriction will he apparent on a moment’s thought. It means an almost instant stop to the building trade—a most serious thing at the present time when houses are so scarce.

Of course, race trains, and all luxury traffic, will go by the board. TRAFFIC MANAGER'S STATEMENT CHRISTCHURCH, June 28. Mr AY. Ktringlemnn, District Traffic Manager of Railways,, Christchurch, writes: “In consequence of the acute shortage of coal and the impossibility of obtaining further 'adequate supplies in the immediate future, .the Department will be compelled to make a drastic reduction in existing train services early next week. “This step is inevitable. It lias been postponed as long as possible, and is now being taken with the greatest reluctance, for the purpose of leducing coal consumption and conserving the very limited stock now on hand so as to maintain, essential services. “The reduction will involve all express, suburban, mixed and goods trains.’’