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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 7 (December 1, 1930)

“A Boon to Railway Patrons.”

“A Boon to Railway Patrons.”

The luxurious vehicles put into traffic by the Home railways in recent times represent but one activity in the efforts of the respective lines to attract the traveller. In almost every branch of railway working, this attempt to retain public favour is clearly apparent, and now there is to be recorded the introduction of another facility which promises to prove a real boon to railway patrons.

This facility takes the form of an arrangement for the acceptance by the railways of consignments of highly perishable traffic, such as meat, soft fruit and cut flowers (up to 2cwt. in weight) for page 24 conveyance by passenger train under the “cash on delivery system.” The fees charged for “cash on delivery” consignments vary according to the amount to be collected. On a consignment, for example, valued at ten shillings, the fee is fourpence; on one valued at £5 the fee is tenpence. In addition, there is a fee of threepence per consignment, the ordinary conveyance charges, and 4½d. for postage and registration of the letter to the consignee containing the receipt form which entitles him to receive the consignment. Consignee obtains delivery of the goods on payment of the trade charge, which is remitted to the sender within a few days, in the form of a crossed money order. The extension of the postal “cash on delivery” system to consignments other than those of a perishable nature conveyed over the Home railways was inaugurated in May, 1928. It is thought that the further extension of the facility to cover perishables will be appreciated by the public, as well as help to assist the farmers in marketing their produce.

Modern methods such as these are of real worth in meeting the menace of road competition. All over Europe this competition is felt very strongly, and until such times as the European railways themselves take over the job of road transport on a big scale, facilities of this kind will go far to retain traffic to the rail route.

Christmas On the European Railways. A winter scene on the Stockholm-Gothenburg electrified section of the Swedish State Railways.

Christmas On the European Railways.
A winter scene on the Stockholm-Gothenburg electrified section of the Swedish State Railways.