75,000 PASSENGERS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 91, 11 January 1935, Page 10

75,000 PASSENGERS

Wellington’s Train Travellers HOLIDAY TRAFFIC Popularity of Seaside Resorts Financial details of railway traffic during the holidays are not yet available, but the volume of business makes it clear that a great sum was spent throughout the Dominion on travel by train. Reports from ail districts show 1 substantial increase over traffic returns in the corresponding 1933-34 period—approximately rather more than 10 per cent. Such at any rate is the preliminary tally, acid the improvement in respect of passenger transport was equally marked as regards goods and parcels. /

Railway passenger bookings from Wellington stations and offices during the December and New Year holidays up to Monday last totalled 75,815, compared with 69.538 a full year ago. Many more people than usual booked early during the latest holiday season, this showing that a large number of people travelled farther afield, and made certain of securing seats in the trains. All the rolling stock was in commission, and many extra trains bail to be run in order to cope with the increased demand. After the second week in December traffic steadily improved, and reached almost a remarkable volume during the Christmas holidays, more than thirty thousand people leaving 'Wellington within a few days. Peak on New Year’s Day. Details of the Yuletide exodus have already been published, though the talue of the increased business has not jet been disclosed in terms of cash. Traffic at Thorndon and Lambton stations was renewed at an exceptional rate during the first four days of the year. The peak of business was reached on New Year’s Day. when 5050 passengers travelled by trains to and from Welli> ton. The rush back to Wellington really began to a noteworthy extent on January 2, when no fewer than 3572 passengers came to the city. Within four days the inward passengers totalled 10,295. There was almost a record rush to Manawatu and provincial seaside resorts last Sunday, the hookings from Wellington stations totalling 4118. Many of that total were satisfied with the picnicking haunts in Upper Hutt. Trains to provincial race meetings during the New Year holidays were exceptionally well patronised. During the first week of this year no fewer than 3139 passengers were booked to Auckland, while 3146 came by the Auckland trains to Wellington. In the same period 1075 persons travelled to New Plymouth, and 3294 returned from that town to the capital, giving an idea of the number of people who nad spent their holidays in Taranaki. There were many travellers to and from Hawke's Bay in the first week of the New Year. Bookings by Wellington trains to Napier totalled 1550, while the incoming passengers numbered 2938. In the same holiday period 2084 passengers travelled from Wellington to Palmerston North; inward passengers from the Manawatu city totalled 2795. To Masterton 1211 passengers were booked, while the Wairarapa bookings to Wellington numbered 1120. Still on Holiday. Train traffic as a whole in the Wellington district shows in detail that each centre of the population in the North Island, and each popular holiday resort had little reason to complain about their share of attention by holi-day-travellers and the free expenditure of money in train travel. Traffic is practically normal, though a fair number of people from Wellington still are lucky enough to be on holiday at inland and seaside resorts. The Railways Department made a good finish to the old year, and began the new one with a full measure of prosperity.

GENERAL INCREASE

Returns For Auckland Area

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Auckland, January 10.

An increase is shown in nearly all sections of railway business in the Auckland district. Figures for the four weeks ended on January 5. compared with those for the four weeks ended on January 6. 1934, record an increase in passenger traffic and revenue and in live stock carried. Although there has been some decline in goods traffic, the increase in revenue from all classes of goods was £1750, and the increase in revenue from all sources £2130.

• Examination of the figures over a longer period show there has been a steady movement throughout the official year which began on April 1. In the ten four-weekly periods which have elapsed since then goods tonnage has increased by 65,048 tons, passenger revenue by £5177. revenue from all classes of goods by £58.951. and the total revenue for the district'-by £66.943.