The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 1 (May 1st, 1926)

Train Service

Train Service.

The whole train service has been systematically and thoroughly reviewed; conditions in each district carefully weighed and changes and improved running adopted where such seems likely to stimulate traffic. In a country such as ours where settlement shows a steady upward trend, with population increasing, new industries springing up and intensive development and progress taking place in every direction, it is obvious that the time-table must be amended from time to time to keep up with current requirements. The heavy overhaul of all train time-tables during the year just completed, in order to give a more efficient service, is, to some extent, a confession that the Department, hitherto, had lagged behind. Now, however, the constant endeavour will be to make the time-table more readily responsive to every District's needs and possibilities.

The Management, by mutual arrangement with the Shipping Companies and Motor Service proprietors, is engaged in evolving a scheme to provide a system of “through booking” by train, steamer and motor. This, it is hoped, will meet a public need by removing the necessity of procuring separate tickets for each mode of conveyance and also eliminate unnecessary delay in the completion of long journeys. In this way the motor may be made a feeder of, instead of a competitor with, our Railways.

It is gratifying to learn that the improved time-table has been much appreciated by the trading and travelling public in every part of the Dominion. I take this opportunity also of extending thanks to all in the Service who have co-operated so heartily in the efficient handling of the unprecedented numbers who have travelled by train to New Zealand's record Exhibition.