RAIL TRAFFIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26634, 3 December 1947, Page 4

RAIL TRAFFIC

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS TRAINS FULLY BOOKED SHORTER RUSH PERIOD Pnce again full use has been made of the facilities for early bookings on rail and bus services from Dunedin over the Christmas period. Although it is still three weeks to Christmas Eve, practically all trains to the north, South, and to Central Otago during the rush period are all fully booked and few seats remain unreserved on the buses.

Last year, when Christmas was on,a Wednesday, the rush period on the rail services began on the preceding Friday night and trains were crowded right through to Christmas Day. The Railways Department expected a similar situation this year; but up to the present bookings are not heavy until Tuesday, December 23. In spite of the fact that extra holiday expresses are being run, practically all the trains on December 24, 25, and 26 are fully booked. A few seats are still available, however, on the 9.40 and 11.20 night expresses.

A feature of the bookings has again been the increased interest shown in Central Otago, and practically all trains to this part of the province are fully booked on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Road service buses are also heavily booked to Central Otago on these days. Return rail bookings are heavy. At the present time Monday, January 5, appears to be the busiest day and again on Saturday, January 10, there are few seats available. Trains right through the holiday period will be well filled by returning holidaymakers.

Every day there is a steady demand at booking offices , for rail seats, and it is noticeable that when people learn that the Christmas trains are fully booked they invariably make reservations on preceding days rather than on later trains. Although the numbers travelling are limited by the trains available, it appears that the totals will not fall short of last year’s figures when great crowds of travellers were handled satisfactorily by the Railways Department.