TRAVELLERS BY TRAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19292, 3 April 1926, Page 10

TRAVELLERS BY TRAIN.

HEAVY EASTER TRAFFIC. EXTRA EXPRESSES PROVIDED. ROTORUA AND DUNEDIN POPULAR Very heavy passenger traffic and entire freedom from accidents are the two features of the Easter holidays as far as the Railway Department is concerned. At Easter-time a year ago the shadow of the infantile paralysis epidemic had not qui to disappeared, and this placed a serious check upon holiday-making. Happily the present holidays are under no such cloud, with the result that the traffic, both outward and inward, has been much heavier than was the case last Easter. This has necessitated the running of extra trains ori ail lines, and all have been well patronised. Thursday was an exceptionally heavy day at the Auckland station, but last night the two expresses South were only comfortably tilled, Good Friday invariably being a quiet day on the railway. Although traffic has been heavier in both directions, those travelling outward constituted the greater part of the holi-day-makers. With the days of the exhibition numbered, there has been a rush of bookings tor Dunedin, by Aueklanders. Rotorua, as in previous years, has again claimed hirge numbers of city folk, while rather a new holiday trend is revealed in the splendid patronage accorded the trains on the Opua line. The North Auckland district now appears to be coming rapidly to tlie front as one of the most popular holiday fields. Trains for Wellington. Three expresses, all being crowded, left Auckland for Wellington on Thursday evening. The limited express had its usual quota of five passenger cars and two sleeping cars, the 7.45 p.m. express was composed of 13 passenger cars and one sleeping car, while an extra express leaving at 8.40 p.in. had 16 passenger cars and ono sleeping car. The heavy traffic on the Rotorua line is indicated by the fact that the ordinary express on Thursday morning comprised 12 passenger cars, while a second express, timed to leave at 10.20 p.m., did not steam out from Auckland till 10.44 p.m., the slight delay being caused by the necessity for providing more cars, making a total of 19. The Thames express on Thursday morning comprised nine cars. Two other special trains left Auckland on Thursday evening. One for Helensville, leaving at 6 40, comprised six cars. The other " special " was for Opua and was particularly well patronised. It left with eight cars at 10.53, being 23 minutes behind schedule owing to the necessity for providing extra cars. Heavy Traffic to Frankton. There was also heavy traffic on the ordinary afternoon train for Frankton. On Thursday the ten cars provided were all filled. There was also an extra train each way on Thursday between Auckhmd and Tauruarunui. About 400 passengers reached Auckland by train from Te Kniti at 10.50 on Thursday evening, tiie train comprising 11 cars. The express from Wellington, due at 11.2 p.m. on Thursday evening, did not reach Auckland till midnight, being delayed by a goods; train which had difficulty in negotiating an incline in the King Country. Three expresses from Wellington brought large quotas of holiday-makers to Auckland yesterday. A special express of 18 cars arrived at 10.10 a.m., being followed shortly afterwards by the limited, with seven cars. A third express, also well patronised, arrived at 1.53 p.m. Traffic outwards was much lighter last evening, the limited express at 7.10 p.m. and the ordinary express at 7.45 p.m. carrying less than the usual number of travellers. EXODUS FROM HAMILTON. OUTWARD TRAINS CROWDED. [RT TELEGRAPH. —I'UESS ASSOCIATION.] HAMILTON. Friday. A heavy exodus of people from Hamilton took place yesterday and this morning and all trains leaving the town were packed. Except for the Waikato Lawn Tennis Association's annual tourney, there are no attractions in Hamilton during Easter. A large portion of the population left for Auckland and Rotorua, the Raglan and Waihi beaches, and other holiday resorts for the Easter vacation. The weather was showery and threatening this morning, but cleared in the afternoon.