DAILY TRAINS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 242, 14 October 1942, Page 4

DAILY TRAINS

NEW CLARENCE SERVICE. IMPROVEMENTS AT BLENHEIM. The new daily train service between Picton and Blenheim and Clarence will have its first run on Monday. Ihe roiling slock has arrived and been testea, and necessary alterations are in progress and will be complet-ed in time for the commencement of the new service:. A Raiiwayu Depaitment tngineer from "Wellington iias charge of the short-notice change-over, and work is proceeaing at both enos. Blenheim station, wnicn has been cvercrowded and over-taxed, is being remodelled to maui lme standard, and carpenters, platelayexs and a bulldozer are on the job. A aook siding is being installed on the Smcdair street frcntage near Alired street, so that lorries will be able to ioad direcc into' the trucks. Possibly this dock will be used as a rail-car siding if ever these are run on the line. Tnere will be a new booking office and a reservation counter and a separate parcels office with counter. The stationmaster is also being given a separate room. The facilities provided at Clarence, the terminal for the time being, include a temporary station with stationmaster and garaging accornmodation for service cars and transport lorries. The present arrangement is that the raiiway service ears will be garaged partly at Clarence and partly at Hundalee. No luggage or goods will be carried on the buses, but goods lorries are being provided to handle this. The south-bound train will leave Picton daily at 6.30 a,m. and arrive at Blenheim at 7.20, departing again at 7.45 and arriving at Clarence at 10.30 a.m. On its return the train leaves Clarence at 3.20 p.m., arrives in Blenheim at 6.5, leaving for Picton at 6.30 and reaching the port at 7.25 p.m. The service is being speeded, up to run at 45 miles per hour between stations. The carriages to be used are main line pactern. such as are used in Ncrth, Cantei'bury and although not quite so1 good as the Main Trunk express type, they are very comfortable. Electric liaht.

Westinghouse brakes and steam heac equipment are installed, but the latter cannot be. used a-t pi'esent owing to the difficulty of obtainmg rubber hose connections. The boat train, timetable is being altered to fit in with the new service. From Monday this train will leave Picton at 6.45 p.m. a,nd arrive in Blenheim at 7.45 instead of 7.15 as formerly. On its return, to' Picton the train leaves at 8.15, reaching Picton at 9.15 p.m. With the improved roiling stock position effortsi are being mad© to have the Sunday excursions- revived, but that seems unlikely at the' moment. The coal required for the new service means that almost double the quantity will be used as against the old conditions and until good reserves; are built up it is not likely that any additional running will be under taken. There are "miner" obstaeles in the wav at present. V_