RAILWAYS VERY BUSY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21717, 5 February 1934, Page 8

RAILWAYS VERY BUSY

heavy week-end traffic THE TREK TO WAITANGI The week-end proved an unusually busv period for the Auckland railway staff. To cope with the heavy traffic proceeding to Waitangi, four trains left the city on Saturday for Opua. Besides the ordinary express, which left at 8.40, other trains departed at 8.55, 10.45 and 11.30. All were well patronised. A special train arrived from Wellington in the morning to connect with the 8.55 train.

Other traffic was so heavy last evening that a special train was run direct to New Plymouth. It left at 7.18, and comprised a sleeping car, a first-class carriage and four second-class carriages. Accommodation was fully booked. Four additional carriages were attached to the limited express. Several picnic trains commissioned yesterday added to the work of the staff. "The week-end was a busier period on the railways than that experienced at Christmas," said an official. What must be regarded as the largest passenger train ever run in the North passed through Whangarei on Saturday morning en route for Opua. It comprised 21 passenger carriages, two guards' vans and three engines, and the passengers consisted of the Rotorua Maoris who were on their way to attend the Waitangi celebrations.