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Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1929, Page 4

It is extremely satisfactory to find that the railway traffic through Arthur’s Pass tunnel is exceeding expectations, c. was claimed during the agitation for the completion of the Midland railway that the traffic to result would exceed the general expectations. Yet at the same time more was the strongest opposition to the work going on particularly from the North Island. It was perhaps fortunate at that critical juncture in the history of the construction line?, that the railway authorities of the day took a very favourable view of the traffic prospects when the line was through, and- a'basis was laid down for a regular- time-table. In iV;24 when opened, it was calculated that the traffic would equal 1000 tons per day. NowWthe actual traffic is over 2000 tons per day. Some few months ago theSService was improved greatly to handle, the traffic, and the improved time-table lias to work at full time It will thus. .h.e ..seen that all that was foreshadowed with regard to the traffic is coining to pass. At the moment there is a daily passenger traffic through east and west. Thi.s is to last till the 4th. prox., after which for a period there will be four passenger trains weekly, a* Monday service being added to the regular weekly running. Looking to the fact that traffic lias improved so substantially, the Department might well consider a permanently improved weekly passenger service. If there were greater facilities for travelling it is clear more people w ll use the trains. This is being demonstrated with the special and excursion trains running from time to time, and seeing that the volume of traffic in the aggregate has doubled the original expectations, there is a good ease for an improved passenger service. Another aspect of the matter is that this community has seen its claims as to the success of the Midland railway fully realised. In the same way the community has great expectations regarding the extension o' the railway into South Westland, and in making that overdue request to the 'G,over;nment for consideration, the success of the Arthur’s Pass traffic can also, be pointed to as evidence of sound judgment in regard to possible railway traffic in this advancing Westland district.