HEAVY RAIL TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 4 April 1929, Page 8

HEAVY RAIL TRAFFIC.

RECORD EASTER RETURNS.

AUCKLAND'S BUSY PERIOD.

THOUSANDS MAKE HOLIDAY.

The busiest Easter period on record is disclosed by the holiday traffic returns of the Auckland railway booking offices. The total revenue for Easter week was £12,407, against £11,992 for the corresponding holiday period last year. Crowded platforms and many extra and lengthened 'trains were the outward evidences of especially heavy traffic, which, at a rough glance, was fully equal in volume 1o previous Easter rushes, but it was only when transmuted to terms of pounds, shillings and pence that the phenomenal nature of the traffic was realised, even by railway officials in the thick of the pleasure-bent crowds. The fact that over 20,000 tickets were issued during last week j*ivej some idea of the number travelling. Hut that figure refers only to those outward bound. At least as many passengers arrived and, as most of them had excursion tickets, they later made the return journey. Thus, on a conservative basis at least 70,000 perspns either arrived at or departed from Auckland during the Easter vacation.

That the opening of booking offices in Queen Street and Symonds Street was appreciated was shown by the large proportion of business done there during Easter week, particularly at the city cilice, where the revenue earned was £5222, or approximately two-fifths of tho total. The Symonds Street office has been opened oidy a fortnight and is not yet well known, but, nevertheless, tho turnover there was £489. A year ago all business had to be done at the booking office at the station.

Tho following returns, comparing this Easter's traffic returns with those of tho previous Easter, show how business has increased:— Easter, Easter, 1029. 19-28. Tickets sold 20.01)" 12.515 Seats reserved .. .. 16,'157 G.SOO Sleeping berths .. 1.105 7f>2 Total revenue .-j >..• £12,407 XI 1.902 A striking feature is the great increase in reservations, a precautionary step made much easier of accomplishment by the institution of booking offices in the business cenlres. Included in the total were 7000 telegraphic reservations from country stations.