LONG DISTANCE RAILWAY FARES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 507, 16 November 1909, Page 2

LONG DISTANCE RAILWAY FARES.

One of the proposals outlined in the Budget which is of considerable interest to the travelling public and particularly to through passengers on the Main Trunk railway between Wellington and Auckland, is that in reference to the alteration in long-distance fares. At present the fares are reduced on a sliding scale according to distance, but under the new proposal long-distance travellers' will receive no advantage, it being intended to make the fares uniform for all distances, viz. a penny half-penny per mile first class, and one penny per mile second class. It is expected that this alteration will result in an income of £IOO,OOO a year in the railway revenue. The effect in regard to passengers on the Main Trunk railway, particularly, to second class passengers, will be somewhat considerable at present, the first class fare between Wellington and Auckland is £i 19s id, but under the proposed new scale it will be increased to £2 13s 3d, an increase of 14s 2d. The second class fare at present is £1 is 2d, but the scale will raise itto 15s--6d (an increase of 14s 4d), or to nearly the amount of the present first class fare. It will thus be seen that the effect of the proposed new scale, if carried into effect, may have an appreciable effect on the traffic on the Main Trunk line, It is said that the increase of revenue is not the only object aimed at in the proposed alteration. It has been stated that the Department have had reason to suspect that the present long-distance scale is absurd in some instances, through persons taking out a ticket for a long-distance trip, and after travelling a certain distance transferring their tickets to other passengers who join the train at the station at which, they themselves alight, and travel to the station tor which the ticket is made out.