THE CALL of 'all aboard’ is being heard by mare people since Via Rail began ‘running its Skeena passenger train on an all-daylight The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 20, 1996 - A3 schedule. It’s become a particular hit with tourist groups and train of- ficials report a great deal of interest already for next summer. Train passengers increase VIA RAIL officials are ecstatic over the in- crease in numbers on its Skeena run through the north this summer, Revenues and ridership were up from June to September compared to last year because of the switch to an all daytime scheduk, ‘The switch to us proved it was not only a great decision in terms of tourists but clearly shows it was good for the local peaple,’’ said VIA official Diane Graham. Revenues were up 9.3 per ceat for the four- month period and ridership rose by 41.4 per cent compared to 1995, That fatter statistic shows that local people be- gan to fake advantage of the Skeena’s day time run, said Graham. The Skeena now leaves Prince George at 7:45 a.m, heading west and Prince Rupert at 8 a.m. heading east, stopping at points in between. “{ know in talking to the: station’ agent in Prince George that when the train left at 3 a.m, under the old schedule, she’d be lucky if there was one passenger. Now there are people com- ing in left, right and center,’’ said Graham of the increase in local traffic, VIA officials atlending tourist information fairs are already reporting a jump in interest for travel next summer, she added. “The interest has just been phenomenal. - We're alrcady getting sold out dates for nexl year. We’ve been bringing in travel writers and the Skeena will be featured on Pallin’s Pacif- ic,” noted Graham. Pallin is Michael Pallin, formerly of Monty Python who has now taken to producing travel documentaries. Revenues for the June to September period topped $725,000. That’s an increase over last year. But it’s still a long way from the day when revenues will meet expenses as the annual sub- sidy put toward the Skeena is more than $5.5 million. “There is the advantage of bringing people into the region and the tourist dollars -they will : spend, not to mention«providing- transportation to local ‘peoplé. The more we can ‘do'ta increase revenues and to keep costs down, the better,” said Graham. ‘ CO-ORS { M2VREINAIF b> Instructor: Eileen Micks LEARN HOW TO MAKE BASIC Christmas. Cost is $30.00 & scissors. Mazimum capacity is 10 -12 people. - Sign up early. Goo’ §~=— Terrace Co-op. Family Fashions Department SEWING CLASS DECORATIVE OVEN MITTS with two liners, one to match the kitchen and ¢ one for This includes your supplies. ‘Sign, up in the sewing department and choose your two prints. Bring your machine Avoid disapointment SEE STORE FOR FURTHER DETAILS Thursday, November 28 6:30 pm to 9 pm at The Terrace Co-op 4617 GRIEG AVE., TERRACE 669-GO47 4 Head Hi-fi This year’s schedule change was accompanied by a summer-only two-tier rate structure. Those wishing the premium class service —- mainly tourists — paid more to enjoy a meal service and access to the dome car, Those paying coach couldn't sit in the dome car and had to buy airline-style meals. Overall the two rates were well accepted, said Graham. VIA has returned to one rate and full access to the dome car For the fall and winter, Just as was the case during the summer, the Skeena runs cast Wednesday, Friday and Sun- day and.west Monday, Thursday and Saturday. kkkkk One local travel agent doesn’t question the in- crease in Via's local traffic but says his agency is selling far fewer longer range tickets. That’s because the new schedule means there’s an overnight stop in Prince George and _another.one in. Jasper for thase who wish to head east, says George Clark of Elan Travel ; ‘Sales may be up locally, but what are they beyond Prince George?”’ he asked. cow 4 head hi-fi Stereo YCR shitln mal On fenen Mena «Uniwrsal Remote cunt TH femain Time #30 Sccund Power hackup © xd Rewing ® Real time Crear Count vi n Fluorescent Display © Aulo «peal play «MHS. Index Search re dal ane Correction © f Shield, vemes 4 head VCR EF efilinpuat On-screen Menu «Universal dompale Cental *Auln Kepeal Play #30 Second Hower backup © Uligh nee Howing & Real E time Linear Counter wath Funnescent splay 600 Unes Horizontal Resolution ® UllaBlack = Comb Filter @Feont Firing Speaker: © MTS Slereo ¢ Yolume Correction © Lourtness * Univeral Kemoie » Avio Demo * Of/On Chaone! Timer» Ghannet 1 Child lock © Auta Closed Caption Conttol # Super VES Jack News in Brief Thumbs up to talks THE HAISLA of Kitammat Village have given their approval on how land claims talks should proceed with the federal and provincial governments. Nearly three-quarters of those who turned out ta vole on the issue approved of a framework agreement ham- mered owt between negotiators for the Haisla and the two governments, “I feel 72 per cent is as good as anybody can expect on this kind of issue,” Haisla chief negotiator Gerald Amos said, He said approximately one-third of eligible voters turned out to vote at stations in Kitamaat, Terrace, Prince Rupert and Vancouver. Amos did note that there is uncertainty within the Haisla about land cla?ms talks. Sex assault verdict A TERRACE man has been found guilty of indecent assault and gross indecency based on events that oc- curred 40 years ago. On November 6, a jury found Malcolm Walter Campbell, now 76, guilty of two counts of indecent as- sault and three counts of gross indecency. The charges stemmed from incidents with a female victim that oc- curred between 1950 and 1959 in Prince Rupert and Terrace. Campbell will be sentenced on December 19, School districts mum SCHOOL TRUSTEES from Kitimat and Terrace have agreed not to talk about the progress of the talks on the amalgamation of the two districts. They met last week with Dante Lupini, sent by the province to bring the two parties together, and ‘‘made good progress,”’ said Terrace trusee Stew Christensen. “We agreed not to negoliate through the media,’’ he said. Christensen wouldn't say what issues the two sides were discussing. Trustees elected for the new Coast Mountain school district Saturday met on Monday to continue talks. The site of that meeting was Kitwanga, halfway between Stewart and Kitimat, the southem and northem ex- tremes of the new district. Those working on merger details hope ta soon recommend to the new school board procedures for se- lecting the district’s superintendant and on how the new district should be governed. Schools get computers THE TERRACE school district has been given just over $96,000 by the provincial government to buy new computers for classrooms. Kitimat also got $44,000. The money is part of $20 million the government is handing to schools for upgrading computers and sys- tems. The $20 million is this year’s allocation from a five-year $100 million school technology plan an- nounced last year. . . That plan. was designed 10 provide one computer for. every three secondary students and ‘one computer. for every six elementary students. soma 50” Projection Television #750 lines hoszanta! 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