TRAIN TRAFFIC

Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 12

TRAIN TRAFFIC

HOLIDAY PREPARATIONS BOOKINGS AFFECTED BY EPIDEMIC Indicative of the strict observance by the general public of the precautions necessitated through the epidemic of infantile paralysis is number of cancelled reservations by train during the Christmas vacation. _ Prospective travellers with families evidently prefer to remain in Dunedin rather than risk journeying. Railway officials expected that this year’s Christmas traffic would be the heaviest in years. The incidence of the disease, however, has deterred hundreds of people from enjoying their annual vacation away from the city. Abandoned fixtures, such as the centenary celebrations at _ Riverton and Moeraki, have resulted in the cancellation of bookings. The Hailway Department will experience its busiest period from next Wednesday. On that day the four expresses for the north will be fully taxed. Seven cars have been reserved on the 8.45 a.m. train, the same number on the 11.35, six. on the 10.47 a.m, (relief express), and eight on the 11.20 p.m. There will be five trains on December 24. The first express for the north leaves at 8.45 a.m., and 12 cars have been reserved. This train will be followed by one at 10.47 a.m,, six carriages of which are fully booked. Seven carriages are already reserved on the usual second express. Two trains will run at night—one at 10 o’clock and the other at 11.20. Four and five cars respectively have been hooked so far. Three trains for the north will leave Dunedin on Christmas Day. They are scheduled to depart at 8.45 a.m., 10.47 a.m., and 11.35 a.m. Altogether, on these expresses, 22 carriages have been booked. Reservations by the south expresses are not as heavy as those for the north, but indications are that the traffic will be severely taxed on Wednesday and Christmas Day. Race meetings at Waikouaiti (on New Year’s Day), at Oamaru (on January 2), and at Wingatui (on Boxing Day and December 28) will claim many passengers.