HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20290, 24 December 1927, Page 12

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

RUSH BEGINS IN EARNEST. HEAVY RAILWAY BOOKINGS. THE TRAMWAYS BUSY. Yesterday saw the usual holiday rush of railway traffic begin in earnest, and throughout the day, and up till a late hour last night, the Railway Station platform was thronged with departing and arriving holiday-makers. The two morning expresses to Invercargill took away 600 passengers, and the 8.40, 9.5, and 11.80 a.m. trains for the north were also well loaded. The former two carried 850 and 380 passengers respectively, and the 11.40 express, which consisted of 15 coaches, 470. Contrary to expectations the night train to Christchurch was not a heavy one, its total complement being approximately 200. The train for Central Otago was particularly well patronised, and was the heaviest which has run on ibis line for many a day, some 300 travellers leaving by it. The trains arriving in Dunedin also carried their full quota of travellers, and no fewer than 760 passengers, nearly 400 of whom were booked for statmns .-outh of Dunedin, left Christchurc’ by the through express. The second express and the late train were well patronised, but neither of them was a heavy train. Several of the trains were a little behind schedule in arriving and departing, but this, under the circumstances, was only to be expected. The tramway traffic was heavy last night, and all the available rolling stock was pressed into service. Sixty-two tramcars and some IS buses were available to meet the requirements of the public, and an augmented service was run. Tomorrow the employees will have their Christmas dinner at home, and for the rest of the day, a restricted service will bo in operation.

EXODUS i ROM WELLINGTON. AVERAGE BOOKINGS. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, December 23. There is nothing this Christmas like the Exhibition at Dunedin to swell the holiday traffic to above normal, and the present indications point to a holiday rush corresponding with the average. The passenger bookings on the ferry steamers each night are fullv up to the average, and those who have not booked berths now wish that they had shown a little more foresight-To-morrow and on Saturday both the ferry steamers will be making two trips a day between Wellington and Lyttelton. Passengers to Nelson and to Picton are travelling daily in increasing numbers, the accommodation on board the vessels being fully taxed. No definite railway figures are ns yet available, but it would seem as if the number of people traveling by train is about what is normal at this time of the year. Motor cal's, too, are, of course, taking their full quota of families away from the city. The Marama, which is leaving Wellington for Sydney to-tnorrow, and (he Manuka, which is leaving Bluff to-day for Melbourne, are both practically full ships.