East Coast Trains Will Run Faster

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 678, 1 June 1929, Page 16

East Coast Trains Will Run Faster

NEW SCHEDULE READY HORITU DUPLICATION When the new time-table on the East Coast railway comes into force on June 23 travelling time between Auckland and Taneatua wiil be reduced considerably. Since the line was opened for traffic the maximum speed allowed was only 30 mil’es an houi, but now that the permanent way has set to the satisfaction of the engineers, the maximum speed is to be increased to 40 miles an hour. An alteration to the time-table means hours of work for railway officials. A few minutes’ change in the running time of only one train -throws the whole scheme out of order and when every train is altered the whole schedule of passenger and goods trains has to be replotted. Crossings must be arranged and corrected times for the branch lines are to be considered. Long before the time-table comes into operation the whole scheme must be definitely clear to everyone concerned. For this purpose large charts are prepared showing the running times of each train and when they will pass each other on the journey. The general public has no knowledge of the immense amount of work entailed in a change in the running time of a train NEW TIME-TABLE Following are the principal passenger trains and their times under the new arrangement:—The mixed train which leaves Frankton Junction for Auckland at 2.30 p.m. daily will not leave until 4 p.m., arriving in Auckland at 9.15 p.m., instead of 8.7 p.m. Instead of leaving Auckland at 5.35 a.m. the Taneatua express will not leave until 9 a.m., reaching Taneatua at 7.32 p.m.. instead of 8.6 p.m. as at present. This run will be reduced by approximately an hour. One of the principal alterations will be the express from Taneatua for Auckland. At present this train leaves from Tauranga every morning at 8.5 o’clock, but after June 23 it will leave Taneatua at 8 a.m., reaching Auckland at 6.30 p.m., instead of 4.53 p.m. as at present. A mixed train from Frankton Junction, which now arrives at Waihi at 2.12 a.m. daily will go on to Tauranga, arriving there at 4.50 a.m. CATCHING THE LIMITED Another new train will be a mixed, leaving Tauranga at one minute past midnight and arriving at Frankton Junction at 6.30 a.m., in time for passengers from the East Coast to catch the Limited for Auckland. The Rotorua express will leave Auckland at 10 a.m. each morning instead of 10.30 a.m., reaching Rotorua at 4.50 p.m. instead of 5.20 p.m., as at present, The express for Auckland will leave Rotorua at 9 o’clock each morning instead of 9.30, reaching Auckland at 3.40 o’clock In the afternoon instead of 3.58. These are only the principal passenger trains. All the goods trains will have to be altered to meet the new timetable and several of the branch line trains will he given a new schedule. Several of the suburban trains will also be altered a little. It is expected that the HorituFrankton Junction duplication will be opened by June 23. This will help to speed up the trains between Auckland and Frankton Junction, as trains will be able to pass on the double track instead of having to wait at the various stations where crossings are made.

The whole of the work has been completed on the duplication, with the exception of the signalling apparatus, which has yet to be finished. This may be done in time to have the new section of track ready for June 23.