WEST COAST TRAINS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1923, Page 4

WEST COAST TRAINS.

(Christchurch Press). One of the matters mentioned by out special reporter in the despatch hum Hokitika which we printed on Thursday. was the train service from Otira to Hokitika via Ureymouth. Travellers from Canterbury have freijuentl.v noticed that this so-called ‘‘express” waits -0 long in Gi'eyniouth, and lingers to long on the last 21 miles of the run. that it often arrives at Hokitika long alter 0 o’clock. One of the results of this, as our correspondent points out. is that one can generally go to Hokitika bv motor from Otira in two hours’ less time titan is occupied by the .’■ailway journey. “Unless the delay '‘between Hokitika and Oreymoiiih i-> cut down" fie says, “the inevitable result will he to drive passenger traffic to the moior-i at s.” Passenger traffic is very profitable, and the Railway Department iiill-t depend upon this trilii- tmake the AUdh-nd line nrofitahh'. for. ali.mugh the goods : allied bet • iV tv.o pi'ot imos may he cxi e: nto ;-.ton to large dimensi-iis. non-; el t ! :e p sil.de passenger Ir.iflu mi 1 with. During the -iiminer season therailway jetirney to 1 Ink it :i..n will i ertainly lie very popular. ami a gr-at many of th- iraveller- v, HI de-ire to reach Hokitika as (piiik.lv a-, pi--i:. ■. The Department will lose the patron ‘go of many (.1 these util.-- i -an or. lire their arrival at Hokitika ''A <'< o a.--:- -. or even earlier. There i- no reason, we understand, why railway travelling need he leys rapid in West kind than it i- en this side el the ranges, or less comi'ortable. It is the Department duly to up) i.v up-t o-dat- methous from one end of the t rans-Isiand ithe ether, and we horn.' that .nor. tot we have called at tout‘-e to t"- m e < ' no t i:tie will h- lost in -‘i- : t ■ ■ necessary improvement-, and ma-irg the journey from Christi httr-lt to ::•':>•• tika a real express sendee.