MANY PEOPLE TRAVEL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21977, 29 December 1936, Page 6

MANY PEOPLE TRAVEL

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC FIGURES IMPROVEMENT SINCE LAST YEAR Although the possibility of a spread of the infantile paralysis epidemic affected railway traffic during Christmas Day and Boxing Day, the number of passengers travelling suggested that if the season had been a normal one with reasonably good weather the figures would have been abnormal. Even in the existing circumstances, however, the number ol passengers leaving Christchurch by train on those two days was mucn bigger than in previous years. Excluding the Otira and Timaru excursions the number leaving Christchurch this year on the two days was 3515, compared with 3319 last year, j and 2770 on the same days in 1934. The increase was entirely on Christmas Day when usually comparatively few people travel. This year, however, there was an increase of 300, but some of that was lost on the following day when there was a decrease of 100. This year relief expresses were necessary on. the West Coast line, the figures for those trains being double those of previous years. Undoubtedly because of the infantile paralysis epidemic the numbers patronising the south-bound expresses were smaller than usual. The Railway Department's approximate totals of passengers on the main trains leaving Christchurch on Christmas Day and Boxing Day are as follows: —

Three trains were necessary to talo the passengers to the races at Ashburton. Last year the special excursion to Otira was run on Boxing Day and carried 200 passengers, eight fewer than the previous year. This year the excursion on Sunday carried 220 passengers. Although that excursion clashed with the one to Timaru, three trains were necessary for the latter excursion carrying 1200 passengers. _ Although the Union Steam Ship Company releases no figures for publication, a reporter was told yesterday that the passenger figures were very satisfactory, and would have broken the previous records by a wide margin if so many prospective travellers from the south had not cancelled their reservations. Precautions being taken by parents against infantile paralysis combined with the weather to cause a decrease in the tramway revenue over the holidays of £43 compared with the last year's figures. The best figures in recent years were in 1934, when the revenue for the four days beginning on Christmas Eve was £2224. The comparative figures for those four days for ttie last three years are as follows:

In 1934 the weather was fine and very hot during the Christmas season, and last year it was good, but circumstances have combined this year to keep the usual passengers off the trams.

Christmas Day From Christchurch1936. 1935. 1934. First express south Relief express .. Midday express To West Coast .. West Coast relief 250 280 290 220 190 324 305 100 200 250 208 40 211 Totals 1230 929 709 Boxing Day From Christchurch 1936. 1935. 1934. First express south Relief express .. Midday express To West Coast .. West Coast relief Ashburton Races 290 200 120 200 200 1275 300 560 260 370 900 281 375 195 296 914 Totals 2285 2390 2061

1936. 1935. 1934. £ £ £ December 24 .. 812 867 1163 December 25 .. 285 309 271 December 26 .. 567 677 594 December 27 .. 230 184 196