RAILWAY SERVICES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1693, 31 March 1917, Page 3

RAILWAY SERVICES.

DRASTIC CURTAILMENT. SUNDAY AND EXCURSION TRAINS DISCONTINUED. Drastic curtailment of the railway services is about to be enforced, mainly with a view to releasing men for military work. The main proposals of the Department which have been approved of by Cabinet are as follow; — (1) That the 0.10 p.m. Wellington to Auckland and the 12.-I0 p.m. Auckland to Wellington expresses lie discontinued. (2) That all Sunday trains, including troop trains, with the exception of the night express from Auckland and the ferry train from Lyttelton to Christchurch, he discontinued, (8). That suburban trains he limited to services conveying passengers from home to work and hack, shopping and midday services be materially reduced, and the lines, except on Saturdays, be closed before 7 p.m., no facilities for rail travel being given after that time. (4) That other time-table trains between town and country districts be reduced in number, and that the lime and hours of running be re-ar-rangod so that return journeys may be completed within 12 hours as nearly as possible. (5) That special trains for races, sports, and agricultural shows he discontinued, ((i). That holiday excursion tickets, week-end tickets, and commutation tickets (workers’ weekly tickets excepted) be cancelled. (7) That the availability of single tickets be strictly limited to three days. (8) That the availability of return tickets be limited to three days. This will simplify the cheeking of trains, and reduce the work of accounting. (9) That the running of diningcars be discontinued, and meal inlervals arranged at suitable stations on the line. This will reduce the weight of (rains, and release the male staff of about 50 hands.