BUSY STATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20272, 14 August 1937, Page 9

BUSY STATION.

GROWDB AT FRANKTON. WELLINGTON THE MAGNET. FIVE PACKED TRAINS. The busiest period since the Christmas rush was experienced at the Frankton railway station last evening when passengers on three special test match trains as well as the ordinary expresses passed through en route to Wellington. Between the time the first excursion train arrived at 5.20 p.m. and the limited express drew out shortly before 10 o’clock the staff was kept continuously engaged in attending to the needs of more than 1500 passengers. The station was thronged from early In the evening until nearly 10 p.m. and over 150 Rugby enthusiasts from Tauranga, Rotorua, Te Aroha and Hamilton Joined the south-hound expresses at Frankton. Considering tho heavy traffic, the despatch of trains from the Junction was carried out with remarkable expedition, and although the restaurant was crowded whenever a train drew in the passengers were very orderly and no difficulty was experienced In •satisfying their needs. Little Delay. The accident at Taupiri yesterday occasioned no delays last evening, but tt was natural that with unusually brisk traffio It was Impossible to maintain schedule-s to the minute. The first excursion to arrive at Frankton was duo at 5.6 p.m., hut was 14 minutes Into. Shortly after followed the first express at 0 p.m., nearly half--an-hour behind schedule. No time was lost by the second excursion on Its way from Auckland, and it pulled Into the Junction at 6.43 p.m., while the third special was only nine minutes late. The limited express left for tho south 20 minutes after It was due out. Some idea of tlie demand for rail accommodation can be gauged when it is realised that there were 110 scats available at Frankton on any of the five trains which passed through last evening. All seals were booked, and no passengers other than those who held reservations were able to fravel. Between ten and twelve carriages were attached to the specials, ami each carried a complement of over 300. A similar number found accommodation on the first express, while the- limited, which carried nine cars, was a full train with close on 350 passengers. Optimistic Spirit. Despite the prospect of a long Journey under wintry conditions a very optimistic spirit prevailed among Mu* crowds of Busby enthusiasts, .and tin* ciliarly light h°arled mood, ot course, there w:u only one topic of conversawero popular, and it was evident that those from the North had made adequate preparations for the ‘'snowbelt.” All manner of games and amusements were in use to dispel the tedium of the long journey but many a hardworking Aucklander, who had dashed off at tho last minute on the 400-mlle Journey, made an impromptu hod in an endeavour to prepare for a -strenuous day on the morrow. A hard-working staff at Frankton were not allowed a spare minute during the live hours of the rush, and I lie fact that there was md the slightest hitch was a tribute to their ability.