TRANSPORT SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21855, 18 July 1934, Page 16

TRANSPORT SERVICE

"REQUEST FOR MORE TRAMS RUSH HOUR 1 CONGESTION TRAFFIC RETURNS COMPARED An informative return showing that while over the past ten years the car mileage run by the Auckland Transport Board's vehicles has increased, both passengers and earnings a car milo ha\c. decreased, was submitted by the manager, Mr. A. K. Ford, at a meeting of the board yesterday in response to n request that more trams should be placed in service. It was stated by the manager that during peak loading periods there were occasions when some cars were hea\il\ loaded compared with the next succeeding /ones.. This condition was inevitable and characteristic of all transport undertakings, even where a very close headway was run. Wet weather also had a bearing on this feature. Cases of overcrowding were investigated by the management and relief followed if it was reasonable to provide it. Nine extra cars had been put on during the last two months. In a comprehensive schedule of annual traffic figures between 1921 and 1934 it was shown that the annual car mileage was 4,961,264 .in 1924, and 5,50/,149 in 1934, an increase of 845,885 miles, while over the same periocL the average passengers a car mile had decreased from 11.11 to 7.59, and the average earnings a car mile had decreased from 28.43 d to 21.26 d. While the maximum number of cars in service a day in 1928- was 183 and the passengers carried for the year 60,500,000, the maximum number of cars in traffic last year was 190, t and the annual passengers carried totalled 44,000,000, showing an increase of seven cars in service and a reduction of 16,500,000 in passengers. It was stated that oil these figures it could be seen that the public was receiving fuller service.

The manager added that two years ago, for the purpose of effecting economies, the headways were reduced during the off peak periods, 'but at busy times there was no reduction in tho cars being run. Ho could not increase the traffic schedules unless there first were signs of trafhc improvements. Remarking that he would like to see something done to expedite tho passage of trains up Queen Street during the peak hours, Mr. W. H. Nagle suggested the board might take into consideration the greater use of the Anzac Avenue route.

Mr. E. H. Potter said this was not. a solution of the matter as the board should have enough trams to carry the people in comfort. The board wUs still making a loss and he thought the reason was that the fares were too high. Thq Chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, said the question of re-routing was not a new one, but had always been opposed by the Queen Street interests. Mjr. Nagle said his suggestion was for peak hours only. The chairman said the manager would bring down a further report showing what could be done.