OTIRA TUNNEL.
TRAFFIC FROAI COAST
Although heavy Hoods on the West Coast caused slips and wash-outs on toe railway line, interrupting the service, and the Blackball bridge was seriously damaged and later destroyed, the goods traffic from the West Coast to Canterbury during 1925 established a new record. The mishaps mentioned were not the only factors militating against steady and uninterrupted traffic, for in addition the Canterbury sect am of the line was affected by wash-outs, and there were prolonged stoppages at the Slate mines. Early in 192-1. however, the traffic fell away through the mining deadlock, which cau-cl the interruption of production at the Blackball anil I’aparoa collieries, and the strike in April, and these factors must lie taken into account in any comparisons made.
As will lie seen from the figures, in 1926. May. June, and July were the busiest months, and the weekly aggregate frequently exceeded 9000 tons. Only approximate figures can bo given, as the tonnage is compiled for tin* purpose of apportioning lbe loads for (be go'd* trains, and the weight of truck< is included in the total. This amounts to approximately one-third. Tbc total traffi" through tbo tunnel since it was opened on August 4th., 1926 lias been 742,657 tons. AVlicn tbo Alps were pierced it was confidently anticipated that the volume of traffic would show an increase anli mil ly.
Although the Railway Department does not keep a daily record of the tonnage from east to west, this traffic is keeping up steadily. Figures giving comparisons of the number of passengers using the line are not available, but there has been no sensational increase, although Ibe traffi,- is growing steadily. The following figures supply a comparison of the weight of the grot!*I rains in the last two years:--
1021 1923 Tons Tons Jnmuiry ...... is. nr 20.030 Fi4.ru:! ry 21.8:1(1 20.41 I. Minch 22.781 20,009 April 19.2lo 28,912 May 31.121 33.072 Juno 23,201 31,802 July 27,208 40,380 AiiKiist 27.837 32.331 Sentombor ... 28.797 30.039 October 28,1 Go 20,431 November .... 23 723 20.708 December .... 22,900 23.233 Totals ... 302.013 332,143
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Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1926, Page 4
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343OTIRA TUNNEL. Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1926, Page 4
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