Our Railway Service.

Manawatu Herald, 24 May 1904, Page 2

Our Railway Service.

The imperfections of our railway system have been the subject of comment for some time past, but no steps appear to have been taken towards improving it. Though the line is said to be one of the best paying lines in the colony, it is perhaps one of the poorest. The carriages, which consist for the most part of obsolete cars formerly used on the main lines, are far from supplying the wants of the travelling public. They are small and without conveniences: in fact the FoxtonPalmerston service seems to be a dumping ground for out of date cars, unfit for use on the other railwa /s. The track does not compensate in any way for the poor quality of the carriages, being very much worn, and consequently rendering travelling rough and uncomfortable. The ease with which the cars travel on the Palmerston-Wanganui line contrasts very strongly with the discomfort of the Foxton-Palmerston service. Then again the time occupied in the journey between Foxton and Palmerston might be considerably lessened, if not for all trains then we would say on three days in the week a quicker service should be maintained.

We are, of course, aware that the former route is a far more important one than our own ; but there is no doubt that our service is capable of considerable improvement. We would not suggest that the necessary alterations should be carried out at once, but the residents of Foxton will agree with us in saying that something should be done towards making the route more convenient and up-to-date Probably if the member, Mr Vile, was approached on the subject, he would agitate to have the matter seen to. At all events any measures that may be taken in the direction of securing a better service, should receive the cordial co-operation of the public, so that the present unsatisfactory state of things may be remedied without delay.