A BUSY PERIOD

Evening Star, Issue 22228, 4 January 1936, Page 10

A BUSY PERIOD

TRAIN TRAFFIC FIGURES CITY TRAMS WeLl PATRONISED . Local railway officials handled exceptionally heavy train loads of holidaymakers both to and from Dunedin yesterday and to-day. It is estimated that over 2,000 passengers by long-distance trains passed through the local station between the departure of the yesterday’s early morning express for Invercargill and the arrival of the train from Christchurch in the evening, while, additional to the time table expresses, three emergency each for Christchurch and Invercargill and one from Christchurch—accommodated a large number of travellers. The 8.45, 10.47, and 11.35 a.m. expresses for Christchurch carried a total of 900 passengers, while the two regular trains and the one special for Invercargill took approximately 700. Close on 1,000 passengers reached here by »the trains from the north and south. To-day’s volume of incoming and outgoing traffic was probably the largest ever handled at Dunedin. The s rush started this morning, when 1,550 passengers embarked on the trains for the north and the south, 1,100 of this number travelling by_ the three expresses which left for Christchurch, and the remainder boarding the early train for Gore and the 9 o’clock train for Invercargill. A further 500 are booked to leave by the 4.40 for Invercargill this, afternoon. Arrivals by three trains from Christchurch will total 1,500, the first batch being due at 4.18 p.m. and the last at 8.56. At 6.23 p.m. the train from Gore is due to arrive with a complement of 420 passengers, at 6.53 320 are due from Invercargill, and at 5.23 500 are expected from Central. In addition 400 passengers are expected cn the seaside trains to-night, and 700 are due back on the same trains tomorrow night. THE TRAM FIGURES. The city trams were well patronised just prior to and during the New Year period. On New Year’s Eve the takings amounted to £523, an increase of £5 on the corresponding day in 1934. .The revenue on the first two days of this year showed a slight drop in comparison with last year’s figures. New Year’s Day takings totalled £297, a decrease of £4 from the revenue for January T, 1935, while £296 was collected on Thursday last, this also showing a drop (£5) compared with the previous January 2 takings. However, bus traffic this year was much heavier than last, and the observation tours were exceedingly well patronised.