MIDLAND LINE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1929, Page 5

MIDLAND LINE

GOODS SERVICES TO .BE RE-ORGANISED.

TIME-TABLE CHANGES

Consequent upon the decision of the Railway Department to runs trains through the Otira tunnel at night as well as. during the daytime,-the goods services between Middleton and the West Coast-are being completely reorganised as from, September 16, wTTen a number of alterations’to the passenger services will -also be made. The complete West . Coast -timetable has had to. be amended to fit in with the reorganisation of -the goods services, the changes-being part of the Department’s policy of effecting general improvements wherever possible) *■ •' ’.-

The alterations will mean that all goods loadings, coal,‘Timber and so on,' made up west of Arthur’s Pass, for trains leaving Greymouth . between 9 a.m. and noon, will reach Middietori at 11 o’clock the same night. ■ Two goods train come from’ Greymouth' between 9 a.m. and noon. Later .on any day. will arrive at' Middleton not later than 5 o’clock > ths ' following morning.

The timing of-the Christchurch-Grey-mouth mail tranis, in both directions, has been subject, to slight alteration* y; \ in hours of departure and over all times., .. The. usual relief trains for. the mail trains, which have hitherto/ , -to = arid from Springfield, "stopping at intermediate stations, willfiiT Tutuie/i j termediate at Darfield. Springfield’ has "* been, the first ..stop, for the expresses out of Christchurch, but now the mails to nnd.ifrom Greymouth will -stop at all stations—for passenger traffic only—between Darfield and Springfield, inclusive, 'with;’til© exception qf. Wadding- -.k frinA- The; usftai >stops will be main-Tt £ tain'ed between’Springfield and Greymouth for the expresses both ways. Under the new arrangements, the • ■ tunnel will be working constantly from about 1 p.m. each day until 4 o’clock the following morning’. At present the tunnel is worked mostly during the daytime. The new- schedule .prpyidei.': '- for a train, conveying merchandise aim' perishable goods to ’ leave Middletov about 6.40 p.m. for Greymouth, reach' ing Greymouth at 4 a.m. the followin' -

day. This will mean that the Grey mouth merchants will be able to obtai*

delivery of their gpods at 8 a.m., in stead of 2 pi’iril', as at present. v . The trriin" usually .conveying thes';yv loads now 1 ledves' Middietori at. l.f ‘ A.m., arid: goods ito ... .connect With i .'A have been, accepted at'-tlie.Christchurc' ,iA sheds'.up) till the closing, time of'll .y----sheds, about 4 p.m. i 'The'‘ i ea'rlier d parture of the train (6.40 p.m.) wi : ‘. -necessitate -earlier,- delivery .• at ;tl : ''riChristchurch'' sheds of consigriirients f • the West. Coast,- to. permit of the )ie > essary loading operatioris . 'being dor’, pleted in time for the 6.40 train’U leave. • ' •