HOLIDAY TRAM TRAFFIC

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23536, 14 January 1942, Page 8

HOLIDAY TRAM TRAFFIC

♦ 10,000 PASSENGERS DAILY “GREAT IMPROVEMENT ON OTHER YEARS” An average of 10,000 passengers a day was carried on buses and trains of the Christchurch Tramway Board in the seven days of the holiday period between Christmas Eve and January 2 "It was a great improvement on other years, and if the weather had been more favourable, especially on Boxing Day and on New Year s Day, the returns would have been even greater,” Mr H. E. Jarman, general manager of the Christchurch Tramway Board, said yesterday, “Because of the petrol restrictions we are undoubtedly carrying a greater number of passengers, but many people are now using bicycles ” According to figures prepared by Mr Jarman, there was, compared with the figures last year (when, with the exception of Christmas Eve, each day was fine and sunny), increased travelling on all but three days of the holiday week, Boxing Day, December 27, and New Year’s Day being the exceptions For the period there was an increase of £598, compared with last year, and the greatest increase was on January 2, when, in spite of rain and an overcast day, there was an improvement of £295. It must be taken into consideration, also, that a trotting meeting, always a busy occasion for the trams, on January 1 was postponed. , , . .. The amounts collected during the holiday week, with the increase or decrease compared with figures of last year, are as follows: — Increase or

♦lncrease. tDecrease. Improved Service To cope with the increased number of passengers, extra trams and buses have been added to the service when and where required, Mr Jarman said. The difficulty was, however, that the increase was not spread evenly over the day and evening, but came m ordater proportion at the “peak periods. To provide increased accommodation at these periods trailers have been brought into greater use, as well as a more frequent service

when necessary.

1941-42. £ decrease. £ December 24 .. 1380 261* December 25 .. 451 99* December 26 .. 726 48 r December 27 .. 651 117t December 31 .. 1069 275* January 1 669 167t January 2 .. 1062 295* £6008 £598*