Morning bus cancelled

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 11, 12 August 1986, Page 3

Morning bus cancelled

The early-morning bus service through the Waimarino connecting Taumarunui with Taihape, has been axed. The last bus will probably run early on Sunday 7 September. A hearing held last week at the Taumarunui District Court determined the fate of the service. Operations manager for NZ Railways, Mr Dean, said that lack of patronage was the reason for the service's demise. For the past six months an average of only five people travelled on the service, and there was not enough mail and freight to sustain it. Most passengers travelled for a short distance only, so that fares collected were not great. Mr Dean said it was unfortunate for the people who used the service but as Railways had been charged by the government to pay its way there was no alternative but to cancel it. "I guarantee that no one will come rushing to replace the service," he said. A lorry service will continue to bring freight through the region, leaving Taumarunui at 8am Monday to Friday. This still leaves the problem of bringing in papers from Auckland on Saturday morning. Ken George of Kapai Books in Ohakune said last week that it would hardly be worth his while opening on Saturday morning without the papers. The Monday to Saturday bus at present leaves Taumarunui at 7.30am and travels through Owhango, National Park. Ohakune, Raetihi and Taihape. A second bus travels the same route in reverse, leaving Taihape at 8.45am.