BUSY WEEK-END FOR RAILWAYS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27988, 7 June 1956, Page 16

BUSY WEEK-END FOR RAILWAYS

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND RUGBY IN AUGUST

Record passenger traffic is expected by the Railways Department on the week-end when the All Blacks will meet the Springboks at Lancaster Park in the third test. The match will be played oh August 18. Between 4000 and 5000 persons are expected to arrive in Christchurch by rail for the match on the same weekend as the department will be running special trains to cope with the school holiday rush. Officers are being compelled to make the best possible use of their car stocks. The first of\two special trains which will carry about 1400 Christchurch Rugby enthusiasts to the first test in Dunedin on July 14 is already full. It is a two-engine train carrying about 800 passengers, which will leave Christchurch at 3.45 a.m. on the day of the match. It will return at 7 p.m. the same day. About 350 have so far booked on the second train, which will leave Christchurch at 445 a.m. About 250 seats remain to be taken. It was originally intended that this train should return at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 15. but it has now been decided to split the train into two; with one section returning on Sunday, as planned, and the other half returning at 8 p.m. on the day of the match. An officer of the department said that about 300 had booked to return on the Sunday, but as it was practically impossible to obtain accommodation in Dunedin, he said the decision had been made to split the train. Another special train will leave Timaru at 7 a.m. on the day of the match for the benefit of Rugby followers from Timaru and Oamaru. Bookings for this train, which will carry about 700 passengers, are reported to be very good, but it is not yet full. It will leave Dunedin on the return journey at 7.30 p.m. on July 14.

Bookings have not yet opened for rail travel to the match between Canterbury and the Springboks at Lancaster Park on July 21. but the department expects at present to run a special from Timaru and from Greymouth.

For the test match in Christchurch five specials are planned from Picton. Westport, Hokitika and Grey mouth, Timaru, and Dunedin. These special trains will leave Westport at 11.15 p.m. on the Friday, Picton at 11.40 p.m. on the Friday, Hokitika at 10.40 p.m. on the Friday, and Greymouth at 12.15 a.m. on’ the Saturday, Timaru at 8 a.m. on the Saturday, and Dunedin at 12.30 a.m. on the Saturday.