Luncheon Baskets on Trains.

Amongst the travel amenities which the Department is providing for the current Summer's traffic is the supply of luncheon baskets on main trunk passenger trains in the North Island.

These promise to be a boon to travellers who prefer to have their refreshments on the train rather than at the counters or dining rooms of refreshment room stations.

The depots to stock the hampers will be Marton and Frankton. If the innovation proves popular the system will be extended to other districts. Any passenger desirous of obtaining a hamper will require to notify the Stationmaster when joining the train at the starting station, or the guard, in sufficient time beforehand, so that the Refreshment Rooms staff at the stations mentioned may have time to prepare the hampers for placing on the train.

When the train arrives at either Marton or Frankton the hampers will be delivered through the train to the passengers who ordered them.

The baskets are very neatly and smartly equipped with the necessary table-ware and will contain cold meats, salad, biscuits, cheese, bread, butter and fruit. They will also have a thermos flask containing tea or coffee as ordered or aerated waters will be provided if desired. The charge for the luncheon so prepared will be 3/-.

In his statement to Parliament this year, the Hon. Minister of Railways in referring to the intention to provide a supply of hampers said:—

“Refreshment services, whilst being expected to pay, must also be looked upon as a very necessary service to the travelling public, and do offer, if fully utilised, a very valuable saving of time to busy men and women travelling by the express trains. The refreshment section of the English railway systems is taken full advantage of in popularising train services, and administrative officers know the value of giving rapid transit to passengers, while at the same time so arranging matters that the travellers land at their destinations fully equipped for the prosecution of business without avoidable loss of time in the partaking of meals.

Some of your griefs you have cured,
And the sharpest you still have survived;
But what torments of pain you endured
From evils that never arrived!

-Emerson: translated from the French.