MAIN TRUNK TRAINS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3581, 17 September 1920, Page 5

MAIN TRUNK TRAINS

THE DAYLIGHT EXPRESSES.

Some months ago The Prime Minister announced the possibility of the introduction of a daylight express between Auckland and Wellington and also other alterations in the railway service between the two cities," which 3xe said at the time womM be in the interests of the travelling public in general, and of the business community in particular. Nothing more was heard of the projected 1 changes for some time, but recently word reached the Auckland Chamber of Commerce from unofficial, but (apparently reliable sources, that tbe Railway Department ' had under consideration some radicait' changes in the express service between Auckland " and Wellington. These changes include a daylight express from each terminus; leaving both Auckland and Wellington at 6.30 a.m. and arriving at 10.30 p.m. Abolition of the evening express from Auckland and the retention of Hie 1 p.m. train from Auckland. Abolition of tie 1 p.m. train from Wellington and •the retention of the evening train from Wellington. The date of the proposed change is given as November 1. Members of the Chamber of Commerce, in discussing the reported coming changes, expressed the opinion that they were not of a nature to recommend them to the great bulk of city and country travellers, and would be a distinct disadvantage to business people, both for travelling and 'for mailing purposes. If put into effect the changes would, in brief, mean an addition of six hours to the mail time between Auckland and Christchurch, a similar difference of about fifteen hours in the delivery of letters between Auckland and Invercargill. The opinion was also expressed that business people in the Waikato and King Country would strongly oppose the change, as it would deprive them of their present opportunity to spend a full day in Auckland and return home the same night. The President of the Chamber states that as to the running of a daylight express, such a train has certain features to command it, the 'chief of which would be its suitability for tourists wishing to view the country and for women traveling alone o-- with children. Th° disadvantages of travel by such a train would', of course, be the inconvenient hour of its arrival, and the difficulty of obtaining accommodation readily at that hou.r of the mght. But whatever is done about ?a daylight express. I consider it would be a Tni°take for the Railway to f*"' out the two most popular and convenient trains at oresen*' running on rhr> Main Trunk line.