RAILWAY FARES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2824, 16 December 1924, Page 2

RAILWAY FARES.

EXCURSION RATE REDUCTIONS OTHER ACCEPTABLE CONCESSIONS. The Minister of Railways (Hon. J. G. Coates) has been considering for some time how best to popularise the train services by providing increased facilities for the travelling public and in accordance with his policy of development a Gazette notice was issued last week effecting alterations in the scale of fares, rates and charges in force on the railway system.

The availability of tickets for tun miles and over, which in the past has been restricted to three days, has now been brought into line with pre-war practice whereby single tickets were available for one month and return tickets for journeys of over twenty miles could be used within three month 5. An attractive scale of reductions in excursion rales is also provided for, and in addition the period in which seats may he reserved has been extended. These alterations will operate on and after December 17th, 1924, and passengers who travel by “limited" express which started running last Sunday evening, will therfore benefit by them.

A comparison of the new rates on the new schedule of fares shows that, the ordinary first-class fare from Wellington i<> Auckland, which at present is 131/-, will he under the new excursion scale 94/-, while the ordinary second-class return fare, which is now .39/4, will be reduced to 02/9. For journeys up to fifty miles. the ordinary return fares which are 15/10 and 10/10, first class and second class respectively, are now to he reduced to 11/3 and 7/8 respectively.

The three-dav period for the reservation of seats is now being. extended a fortnight. This is in lino with the practice of reserving sleeping cars which has been in operation for some time. The change will do away with the long queues so often caused outside booking offices under the present system at holiday periods and will also go a long wav towards eliminating complaints from intending passengers. To meet the situation caused by the shortage of sleeping cars, the Railway Department is now converting into sleepers a number of ordinary first class carriages, which will bo used temporarily. A special endeavour is being made to make them comfortable for the occupant and each car will contain accommodation for twenty-four passengers. The berths are being arranged longitudinally on the American Pullman car principle.